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Val reached over and touched my elbow again. “Everything will work out the way it is meant to, Celeste,” she said quietly. “Despite everything, we are well-prepared. They won’t take us by surprise.” She gave my arm another squeeze, then coaxed me into following her. “Come with me. Loitering out here will only give your doubts space to grow.”
I hesitated, but only for a moment. Val was right. While being busy wasn’t what I needed, being with the others was.
As we rejoined the small encampment, it looked like dinner was wrapping up. A general quiet had fallen over most of the tents, and none of the late-night hubbub that had occurred in days before was present now.Everyone figures they’ll need their sleep—and they aren’t wrong.
Even if we were ready for Zyanya’s attack, I was certain she’d be coming for us with everything she had. This was her only shot to kill Fenris. It didn’t make sense for her to leave anything to chance.
The thought left me feeling itchy. Despite the wards and traps and charms Val and the others were preparing, I knew we weren’t alone in the forest. My sixth sense was like a constant, uncomfortable hum, unable to pinpoint anything specific, butstill active. I felt like I’d been sleepwalking for the past several hours, even days, noticing everything and not sure I was taking anything in at all. We were reaching the precipice, and it wasmewho would decide if everything would work…or fail.
If I didn’t complete the ritual, if I followed Zyanya’s command to kill Fenris despite my efforts to disobey her will…
And I might die tomorrow.
Just thinking it still felt bizarre, but the death mark seared into my chest was all too real. I swore I felt it tingle when I thought about it too long, and if I did find a way to disobey Zyanya’s order tomorrow, then the price would be my life.
Forcing myself to move, I joined Abi and Gilbert at their camp as they chatted quietly with Cody and Morgan. Val followed me, giving her niece a warm look. Morgan was shoulder to shoulder with Cody, and neither the witch nor the shifter seemed to even notice us sitting down to join them.
Abi rolled her eyes when I caught her gaze, making a fake gagging motion. I giggled—as if she’d never given Gilbert bedroom eyes in public. She made a face, and I shook my head, looking back at our friends.
Walter had remained behind in Colorado. The Snowmass Pack healers had damn near worked miracles for him, but Fenris wasn’t comfortable risking his health here in Peru. It worked out, I supposed, to have someone Fenris trusted so dearly back in Keziah’s territory while she was here with us.
Liana and Esme had stayed behind with Walter as well. Saying goodbye to them was hard, knowing very well this could be my final farewell, but I nearly lost it when my aunt gave me a tearful embrace. She made a point of making sure I packed the Handmaiden grimoire with me, and though I’d already memorized the spells needed for the ritual, I didn’t argue. If nothing else, having the heirloom in our tent felt comforting, like some part of my mother was here with me. It was tucked safelyunder my sleeping bag, and I was sure I’d find myself reading it again when I couldn’t fall asleep.
“Hey, what’s with the face?” Abi asked, walking over to sit next to me. “No need to look so down! I’m sure Fenris will be back any second now to whisk you away for Lunar Lord lovin’.” But her smile seemed tenser than usual.
Fenris had gone off to patrol the wards again alongside Keziah and Piers, and while I knew my unease had heightened with his absence, it wasn’t the real source of my poor appetite and mood. “I’m just really tired,” I told Abi, offering her a smile. I knew it wasn’t convincing, but I couldn’t bring myself to try harder. “I think I might just go lay down until he gets back.”
Abi studied me for a minute. “Would it help if I went with you?” she asked, sounding genuinely concerned. “I know sometimes for me, being alone just makes me feel worse.”
I reached over and bumped our knees together. This time, my smile was honest, even if it was small. “I think I just need some sleep,” I said, barely stifling a yawn. Each night, my sleep felt like it was getting worse. I was certain it was the stress weighing down on me. “But I appreciate it.”
“Well, just holler if you change your mind and want some best friend cuddles until your man gets back,” Abi said, her smarmy grin returning. “I’m never more than a shout away!”
I laughed. “I know,” I said, standing slowly and bidding the rest of the camp good night. Though I couldn’t say I feltbetter, I did feel just a bit lighter, buoyed by Abi’s infallible sense of humor.
When I reached the tent Fenris and I shared, I crawled into the roll and laid down. For a moment, I considered parsing through the grimoire, but even the cover looked blurry to my tired eyes.
I just need to rest.
If I couldn’t fall asleep, then just closing my eyes until Fenris returned would do.
The jungle air droned around me, energy crackling and insects buzzing. The leaves rustled, and the brilliant stars glowed like diamonds overhead. In the distance stood the ancient Moon Temple, blocking out some of the starlight.
I held my grimoire in front of me, and as I inhaled, I could feel the power flow through my veins. I took one more breath, settling my fluttering pulse, and recited the words to a spell.
Wait.
I couldn’t stop the spell now that I’d begun, but I didn’t recognize the words.
How do I know this?
I couldn’t look down. I barely had the time to try and categorize the feeling of the magic surrounding me as the world shifted. It felt like time sped up, and suddenly, the sun was behind the temple, but I wasn’t moving at all. I stood in the same spot, still reciting a spell I didn’t know, but had memorized perfectly. Zyanya screamed in rage as the moon blotted out the sun, and the magnificent bronze dragon spread its wings as it clawed at the sky like it could pull the moon down and eat it.
She screamed again, and as she turned, her massive golden eye found me. I set my jaw and kept speaking.
Suddenly, a horrifying pain ripped through me, starting in my spine and spreading outward like wildfire. I screamed, but my own voice sounded so far away. I screamed again, but I couldn’t stop—I couldn’t make myself say any words. I couldn’t use any spells to call the wind or summon water to me.
As I looked down, flames licked up over my skin, consuming me from the inside…
