“How does she hope to achieve something not even the high priestess could?” the first guard wondered, nervously eyeing the convoy. They all seemed on edge in Danika’s presence. According to Visio’s monarchy traditions, Acheron had been the symbolic lord commander of the armies, and Corbin had answered directly to him. Maybe they weren’t ready to accept Danika in Acheron’s place, though they didn’t have much of a choice in the matter.

  “I don’t know, but I hear she’s bringing one of the scythes they recovered from the Darklings,” another soldier said.

  My blood ran cold, and I gave Amane a frightened look. She knew what it meant. While we weren’t sure what a living creature could do with a Reaper’s weapon, we were both pretty positive a scythe could trump our magi-tech and help Danika get inside the shuttle.

  We had to get it out of there before that happened.

  The golden chariot arrived at the inland edge of the platform, and Danika climbed out. Our window of opportunity was shrinking with every second that passed.

  “Throw them all,” I mouthed at Amane, glancing at the blue smoke bombs still in her hand. I scooped out a dozen from my pouch, as well. There was no time left to think. We had to get inside the shuttle, and fast.

  “Ready, set… go!” Amane hissed and tossed the first bomb.

  I caught a glimpse of Danika’s face losing all color as the blue smoke engulfed at least a dozen gold guards at once. The Aeternae were stunned, roaring with anger. We moved through the crowd, dumping more bombs along the way. The flashes were bright and distracting enough to send them all scrambling in different directions as they tried to figure out where we were.

  “Catch them!” Danika screamed. “They’re here somewhere! Catch them!”

  Amane and I moved too fast for that. We tossed bombs in different directions, making it even harder for the Aeternae to see where they’d been thrown from. We zigzagged toward the shuttle until we reached its rounded underbelly.

  One of the soldiers clawed at the air, frustrated and temporarily blinded. He almost slashed at my side, but Amane yanked me by the shoulder just in time. I’d been so focused on reaching the ship, I hadn’t even noticed the guy.

  We finally made it to the back of the shuttle just as the blue smoke we’d left behind began to clear. The Aeternae were shuffling and running around, sniffing and glancing nervously in all directions. They’d caught our scent, but they couldn’t immediately see where it would lead them.

  “You fools! Check the shuttle!” Danika snarled.

  I’d never seen her this angry before. She’d always been stubborn, but this was downright foolish. She’d chosen the wrong approach the moment she’d spoken against us in the courtroom, and it was clearly much too early for us to attempt to talk her out of whatever she was planning.

  Amane found the hatch and pressed her index finger against the small glass reader embedded on the metallic edge. A familiar hissing sound signaled the hatch’s opening. The door came down, and she climbed up.

  “The door! Get the door!” I heard one of the soldiers shouting.

  It didn’t matter anymore. I was already in, and I pulled the hatch closed behind me. The automatic locking systems were activated, and all the Aeternae could do was scratch at it with their claws.

  “Okay, stage one complete.” Amane chuckled as she settled into one of the pilot chairs. The controls lit up across the glass windshield and navigation panel as the shuttle hummed back to life.

  I found comfort in the sound of the shuttle’s engine, a familiar rhythm that helped me focus as I joined my sister behind the controls. Pressing several buttons, I activated the invisibility shield.

  Outside, Danika stood next to her golden carriage, fists balled at her sides. Her black mourning dress flowed straight down her supple body, the ends fluttering in the rising ocean breeze. The gold guards tried to force their way into the shuttle, but they couldn’t break through. At best, they might manage to scratch the outer shell.

  She watched as we lifted the vessel off the ground, and her jaw dropped when it vanished from sight. The gold guards froze, looking up at the sky, since they could no longer see us. We’d made it. We’d taken the shuttle back, and I doubted they had anything in place to detect us while under the swamp witch spell.

  “I told you we’d make it,” Amane said with a laugh. She was still panting from our diversion run, but the smile on her face was broad, and her eyes were filled with hope. “We friggin’ did it!”

  “I’ll be much happier once we get Nethi’s body back,” I replied, then covered her hand with mine. “But well done, sister. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  “We’re together, Amal,” Amane said, giving me a soft and loving smile. “As long as we’re together, I doubt there’s anything we can’t accomplish.”

  “Then let’s get this shuttle back to the hilltop, find a cure for that damned Black Fever, and exonerate Valaine. And let’s get the vampires their day-walking cure. We’ve come too far and lost too much to let Danika’s grief spoil everything,” I replied.

  Gazing out into the distance as the city’s rooftops and snaking alleys shrank beneath us, we fired up the engines and shot through the sky, heading southeast. Our to-do list was still quite long, but knowing we’d gotten our hands on our shuttle and the rest of our resources… I had to admit, I was encouraged.

  If only the rest of our journey could be so easy.

  Esme

  As the late morning stretched lazily across the Nightmare Forest, the sky covered in its mazir reddish haze, Kalon and I made our way to the inn where Kalla had arranged our breakfast. One of the Aeternae boys had gone hunting this morning, and he’d returned with a boar-like creature that they’d bled dry for us.

  I took slow sips from my cup, sharing a table with Kalon and Kalla, for whom a plate of wild fruits had been provided. We had privacy here, since the Aeternae were out hunting for the rest of the village, and some of the Rimians and Naloreans of Orvis were busy putting together a fire for the meats that would soon be brought in. I could see them through the window, carrying wood and sacks of coal to the center of the settlement.

  “I’m expecting scouts from the city to return soon,” Kalla said, her attention focused on tearing open a round, dark orange fruit. The pulp was rich in reddish veins, and drops of juice splattered like watercolors across her white plate.

  “When did you send them over?” Kalon asked, his shoulder gently pressing into mine as he poured more blood into my cup.

  “Early last night, after you told me what happened at your house,” Kalla replied. “I know I’ve said I don’t want our people involved, but if the Darklings have really become so brazen, we might not have any other choice.”

  I cleared my throat, the taste of blood lingering on the tip of my tongue. It wasn’t as sweet as the Rimian or the Nalorean life fluid, but it did the job. “I’m sorry, I must be missing something here,” I said. “You know about the Darklings, Kalla?”

  “Just because we live in isolation doesn’t mean we’re unaware of what happens beyond our home.” She gave me a flat smile, knowledge glimmering in her greenish eyes. “I simply don’t make a habit of crossing paths with the outside world, that’s all.”

  “You’ve never dealt with the Darklings yourself?” I asked.

  “Oh, plenty of times. It’s just not something I’m ready to talk about.” She moved one hand slowly over her necklace, where I spotted the black and white thread. I wanted to press her further on the subject, but Kalon gently squeezed my wrist. As soon as our eyes met, I knew he wanted me to let Kalla open up when she’d feel ready. Whatever she’d been through with the Darklings didn’t exactly impact our operation, so it was only her story to share, willingly.

  “So, you know who Kalon’s mother is…” I said, veering away from her past, for the time being.

  “He told me, yes,” Kalla replied. “He and I spoke at length while you were sleeping. I can’t say I condone the way he brought you here, but now that he’s shared everything he knows with me, I understand. I hope you’ve forgiven him, by the way.”

  I looked at Kalon. His eyes were the saddest blue I’d ever seen, and I could tell he was still suffering over the lies he’d told me. “It’s a work in progress,” I said, taking another sip. The blood was rather simple, in terms of taste and effects. I could see why the Aeternae might have trouble giving up the Naloreans and the Rimians as their source of sustenance. It wasn’t impossible, but it probably wasn’t easy.

  “What did you send the scouts into the city for, specifically?” Kalon asked, trying to change the subject. We’d already cleared the air between us. All that was left was for him to regain my trust, since he’d already stolen my heart. It would take some time for the damage to be repaired.

  “To check on your house, first of all. To check on the imperial palace as well. To take the pulse of things, let’s say,” Kalla said.

  “I suppose the scouts are prepared to blend in and not stand out in any way,” I replied.

  Her gaze was drawn to the inn’s entrance as four young Aeternae men and women came in. They were all clad in elegant black leather with dark gray velvet hoods hanging from their shoulders. “Oh, don’t worry about that, Esme. We’re not savages. We just don’t like the empire all that much,” she said. “What news do you bring?” she asked the new arrivals.

  These were the scouts. They’d gotten out of their patchwork animal hides and rough linen, and they’d worn clean leather and silver jewelry to move through the imperial city unnoticed. Clearly it had worked, since the four of them were back unharmed.

  “There is something happening in the city, Chief, and it’s not good,” one of the males said, addressing Kalla by her title. “The Visentis mansion was empty, but there were hundreds of silver guards checking it from top to bottom. We caught faint scents of Esme and Kalon there, but also other visitors who’d already left. One of them bore a trace resemblance to Esme.”

  “Trace resemblance?” I replied, slightly confused.

  “Smelled a little bit like you,” he clarified.

  I gasped. “That must’ve been my brother, Tristan.”

  “There’s something else,” one of the females added. “The palace is in an uproar. The courthouse has been sealed off. The mourning flags have been raised all over the city. Black silk and red rose… the sigil of death.”

  Kalla stilled, her eyes widening. “Who died?”

  “The Lord Supreme,” the girl replied. “Acheron Nasani. He was killed during Zoltan’s trial.”

  “Zoltan Shatal committed suicide, by the way,” the second male Aeternae scout said. “It was a bloody mess, from what we were told.”

  The scouts went on to tell us everything they’d gathered from the entire city—Petra, her brother, and the rest of her sons had gone away, and no one knew where to find them; Prince Thayen and Danika had seen Acheron’s head get cut off; a Nalorean with a scythe had been responsible, and Valaine had gone into a rage and killed her; a Darkling had snuck in posing as a gold guard, and he’d provided Zoltan with the poisonous capsule he’d needed to end his life before the sentence for his betrayal had been passed.

  They’d learned that Valaine and my people had run away because Danika had ordered their imprisonment in a fit of grief and anger. The city I’d left last night was no longer the city that had, albeit awkwardly, welcomed me. It was now hostile territory, and my brother was on the run.

  My breath was short as panic threatened to cloud my judgment. “Kalon… how do I get hold of my brother? I need—” I paused when he gave me my earpiece back. My heart swelled, and I quickly got over the hot flash of annoyance caused by the thought that he’d been holding on to it. “Thank you,” I murmured and slipped the piece in and around my ear, pressing the call button. “Tristan? Can you hear me?”

  Static came through, so loud it almost punctured my eardrum. I pulled the piece off, shaking as I turned it over several times. Kalla dismissed the scouts but told them to stand by in case she needed them again.

  “I’m sorry,” Kalon whispered, watching me as I tried desperately to figure out what was wrong with the earpiece.

  “Did you do something to it?” I asked, my tone clipped. I instantly regretted it, but the question had already been asked, proof that I was still adjusting to this new dynamic between us. Kalon had lied to me, repeatedly, under the guise of good intentions. For a moment, I was inclined to believe the earpiece fit into one such pattern, though Kalon could’ve simply taken the earpiece and not given it back.

  Our bond was being tested. This was the first of many hurdles in our relationship, which was still delicate as we worked to mend our broken trust. If we had this much trouble in the very beginning, what did that say about our future together?

  Kalon shook his head. “I swear to you, I didn’t. I’m just sorry it’s not working, for whatever reason.”

  “You should never have taken this from me,” I mumbled, tears stinging my eyes. My brother was out there somewhere, running from the Lady Supreme and the armies of Visio. Derek and Sofia, too. Amal, Amane… “Oh God, did Ansel ever find him? What about Valaine?”

  No one had any answers for me. Only silence, which made everything worse. Being unable to reach my brother had been my nightmare from the moment we’d met the Aeternae and I’d first considered the possibility they might turn against us.

  “Don’t rush to blame Kalon for the gadget’s failure,” Kalla said, taking the earpiece from my hand and squinting as she checked it. “This might’ve burned when Petra hit you with death magic.”

  “How… how would you know such things?” I managed, staring at her in disbelief.

  It made her laugh. “Goodness gracious, what part of ‘we’re not savages’ did you not understand? Esme, I’m a former member of the empire’s society, and you’ve already seen the black and white thread on me. It was all over your face when you spotted it. I have met Darklings, just as you suspected. I have seen their death magic up close. This earpiece has tiny burns, and I have seen marks like them before. Whatever she did to disable your… what did you call it again?”

  “Telluris.” I sighed.

  “Whatever she did to disable your Telluris must’ve shorted out this thing, as well,” Kalla continued. “Petra must’ve known you had this device. She would’ve adjusted her death magic to it. The woman is anything but unprepared.”

  “You sound as though you know my mother well,” Kalon replied. It was his turn to frown in confusion. There were things about Kalla’s past that she hadn’t shared with him, either.

  “As I told Esme earlier, I’m not ready to talk about my past. I got in with the wrong crowds, but then I left, becoming an outcast and ending up here. There is a backstory to my existence, if that’s what you were wondering, but I will not share it with you until I am convinced you can make good use of what information I might have. I hope you’ll respect this, and I promise to help you in any way I can.”

  “You were a Darkling, then,” Kalon insisted.

  “It sounds odd, considering I’m a Nalorean, right?”

  “Not anymore. Not after what happened to Acheron,” I said. “Listen, Kalla, as long as your secret does not affect us directly, or our mission, I will respect your request for privacy. But I do hope you’ll open up to us eventually, like we did with you.”

  She smiled, warmth softening the blue in her eyes. “I appreciate it, Esme. Thank you.”

  “So what do we do?” I asked, my voice wavering as I looked at Kalon. “How do I find my friends, if they’re out there somewhere? We should head out and look for them!”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” he replied. “Especially if we don’t even know where to begin our search.”

  “We’ll head back to your house! If Kalla’s scouts were able to pick up my brother’s scent, I should be able to do the same. We could follow the trail until we find Tristan. He’s probably with Valaine and my people, anyway.”

  Kalla shook her head. “I’m afraid I agree with Kalon on this. It’s too dangerous for you to go back into the imperial city.”

  “I still have some invisibility pellets left. We can use them,” I said and shot to my feet, eager to get moving and go after Tristan.

  “It’s too risky, child,” Kalla insisted. “Even with your magic tricks, the entire city is looking for you. Just because you’re unseen doesn’t mean you’re unheard. Or that one of the better-trained gold guards won’t catch your scent. Believe it or not, I have your best interests at heart. Besides, I still have my scouts, remember?”

  I settled back into my chair. My knees felt weak as dozens of terrible scenarios darted through my head, making me increasingly worried for Tristan and the others. Kalon took my hand in his, squeezing gently in a bid to reassure me. It helped, but it wasn’t enough. I needed a way to get my brother back. Nothing else mattered.

  “What are you suggesting?” I asked Kalla.

  “Let my scouts go ahead,” she said. “They can find the right people, ask the right questions. The city and its surrounding areas have good eyes and ears who will not speak to the Aeternae, especially those in armor, but they will talk to our people. They’ll recognize my sigil on the scouts’ belt buckles and know they’re helping me.”

  “They can eventually get us a more accurate location for Tristan and your team,” Kalon replied, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, that might work.”

  “So what do we do in the meantime? Sit here and do nothing?” I grumbled, leaning back in my wooden chair, one boot firmly planted against the metallic base of the round table in front of me.

  “No, we try to figure out a way to get the Lady Supreme to understand that the Darklings are bad, and that whatever it is they’re trying to do is not for the good of the empire,” Kalon said. “Had they been right this whole time, they wouldn’t have had to resort to working in the shadows and killing innocent people. Don’t you think?”