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Declan gave a shout from up on the hill, and they all turned toward him.
“Whatever you did with those mists, Bryce,” Declan shouted, “I got service!” He lifted his phone in triumph, and then lowered his head to read whatever messages he had.
“Small victories,” Bryce said. Lidia and Tharion laughed.
The Hind’s amusement faded, though, as she turned to Tharion, as if drawn by the mer’s own chuckle. “You could hide here, you know. The Ocean Queen can’t pass through these mists unless Bryce allows it.”
“Hide,” Tharion said, as if the word tasted foul.
“The alternative is begging her not to kill you,” Lidia said, “and then doing everything she says for the rest of your life.”
“No different from the River Queen,” Tharion said. Sathia was watching him carefully—curiously. The mer shrugged, and asked Lidia baldly, “How do you live with it? Being at her mercy?”
Lidia’s mouth tightened, and they all pretended they weren’t listening to her every word as she said at last, “I had no other choice.” She looked to Ruhn, eyes bright. “But I’m not going to anymore.”
Ruhn started, whirling to her. “What?”
Lidia said to him, to all of them, “If we survive the Asteri, I’m not going back.”
Hunt had seen enough of the Ocean Queen to know how well that would go down.
Bryce said cautiously, “But your sons …”
“If we survive, my enemies will be dead,” Lidia said, chin lifting with queenly grace. “And surely she will have no need of my services anymore.” She nodded to Tharion. “I’m not going back, and neither should you. The age of unchecked rulers is over.” She motioned to the ruins. “This is the first step.”
A chill went down Hunt’s spine at the surety of her words. Bryce opened her mouth like she might say something.
But Baxian pivoted toward Declan, as if he’d sensed something off. A second later, Declan’s head snapped up.
A foreboding quiet settled over Hunt. Over all of them.
No one spoke as Declan approached. As the male’s throat bobbed. And when he looked at Ruhn, at Bryce, tears shone in his eyes.
“The Asteri made their move.”
Bryce grabbed Hunt’s arm, as if it would keep her from falling.
“Tell me,” Lidia said, pushing through them to get to Declan.
Declan glanced at the Hind, then back to Bryce. “The Asteri organized a hit, led by Pollux and Mordoc, on every Ophion base. They wiped them off the map.”
“Fuck,” Hunt breathed.
But Declan was shaking his head. “They wiped out everyone in their camps, too.”
Hunt’s knees shook.
And when Declan looked to Bryce, Hunt knew immediately that it would be bad. Wished he could undo it, whatever it was—
“And they dispatched their Asterian Guard to Asphodel Meadows. They … they said it was a hotbed of rebel activity.”
Bryce began shaking her head, backing away.
Declan’s voice broke as he said, “They unleashed ten brimstone missiles on the Meadows. On everyone living there.”
PART III
THE ASCENT
