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I stood on tiptoe, stealing glimpses of Devira’s confused and tortured face as she glanced between her brother and Kendara. Finally, she tucked away her weapon and nodded.

“I choose to believe in my kin. But he had better explain why he left us after Mother was assassinated.” She swiveled toward Galan, who’d remained unusually silent during the exchange. “We didn’t believe you killed her.”

“Thank you,” Galan said with a deep bow.

“You could have never been strong enough to defeat the queen.”

Galan stood, grimacing, but wisely stayed silent.

“He was framed by Balram,” I said, pushing my way between the two hulking bodies blocking me. I felt like an imp next to Torvo and Kendara in Rune’s small body. “We want nothing more than to defeat the evil king, but first we have to get safely into Tromodia.” I saw no reason to let her know our true destination, Torvo’s sister or not.

She nodded, not even trying to disguise her disgust. I’d never thought about the way people viewed Rune. I knew the truth, but those outside of the castle? They simply saw a spoiled princess—the daughter of an evil man who’d brought nothing but sorrow to the kingdoms. I was glad Rune wasn’t here to feel the hatred Devira was putting out. She wouldn’t handle it well.

“You think you know me,” I said, stepping right into her space and grabbing her arm when she tried to move away. “But the person you believe me to be is an illusion orchestrated by my father. We are fighting him. If you don’t believe me, then at least believe in your brother. Surely you know what kind of man he is.”

Devira’s face twisted as she looked up at Torvo, tears in her eyes. “I do know him, probably better than any of my sisters. And it’s because I believe in him that you aren’t already dead. I will lead you back to the camp. It’s not up to me anyway. It’s up to Hymer.”

Ripping her arm away, she spun on her heel and marched into the forest. With a simple glance back at Rivven, I hurried after her. The others followed. As we crunched our way through the dried brush, I felt a tug at my consciousness.

Rune.

As glad as I was that she felt ready to communicate, I ignored it. This wasn’t the time. But even as I tried to push her away, my vision blinked between darkness and my surroundings, and buzzing filled my ears. Pain sliced through my head as I tried to force her back, and I pressed my palms to my ears, doubling over.

“Nyah?”

Rivven’s voice felt far away as I tumbled through a tunnel of darkness.

Twenty-Three

Leuruna

“Enough.” I stared hard at the girl in the mirror. No. Not girl. Woman. And it was time I started acting like one.

As I stared at my reflection, the soft pink gown I wore tightened, shrinking to cradle my skin. The color darkened until it was brown, and the material hardened to leather. The skirt split into pants that hugged my legs, and my hair pulled back into a ponytail tied securely at the nape of my neck

I smiled. If Nyah was so much more desirable than I was, and if I wanted to be strong and independent like her so much, why not start acting like it? What was I afraid of? Father? Serano? I hated them both, and they could burn in all seven hells. Father needed my power, which meant it was stronger than his. And now that I had people I cared about—people he had threatened—it was time I got past my fear.

When I saw my fists still trembling at my sides, I screamed. Glass shattered, spraying around me in a slow-motion cyclone as I fought tears of frustration. Why wouldn’t the trepidation go away? Why did father and Serano still have such an effect on me?

I had to practice. I had to go back out there and learn the hard way to face my fears. And I had to win back the man I’d fallen for. Nye didn’t even want him. She’d chosen Rivven, hadn’t she?

“It’s time,” I said, hoping I sounded sure and not like the little mouse I’d always been. When I’d followed Torvo and left the castle, I’d acted against my father. That choice could not be rescinded. There was only one path forward if I didn’t want to hide inside for the rest of my life.

“I’m coming out now, Nye,” I announced, reaching for control of my own mind and body.

Something shoved me back.

She was fighting for control? Oh no. That wouldn’t do. Could the woman I’d loved like a sister really have decided to take over my body?

“Hells no!” I shoved back with all my might, clawing my way up into consciousness. I saw her as I passed, being pulled down by my power. Our eyes met, and everything seemed to stop for a second.

“Bad time,” she choked out as she fought against my tendrils of magic that held her limbs like tentacles.

“Always will be,” I said with a smile and shrug. “We’ll talk. I promise. But for now, I have to do this.” I shook my head as I dragged her back down.

I’d given her too much of myself. Too much power and too much agency when it came to my body. She was a separate, sentient being, of that I was certain. But my guilt at not being able to recreate her body did not mean I had to forfeit my own life. I needed to stop hiding if I was going to learn to embody the qualities I admired in her. And Nyah needed to calm herself as much as I needed to face the world. It was time to take back my body. Then I’d double my efforts at getting hers back.

When I came to, I was walking through dense brush in darkness. For one heart stopping moment, I thought we’d been captured and were back in Centos. But no, there were no forests in Centos. Not like this. Were we in the Night Forest? Rivven walked beside me, hand on my elbow, eyes searching mine and filled with concern.