“No,” he said sadly.

  It was exactly what I’d known he would tell me, but hearing it didn’t exactly boost my confidence in the status of our mission. I wondered how long before Eamon sent a team after us. If they found us, whose authority would win out? I had no desire to go up against Eamon or to find out who would win in a pissing contest for leadership. But if we didn’t find this medallion soon, I was guessing that was a very real possibility.

  And if Kent’s dad was hell-bent on undermining a leadership that would send us to war, how much worse would it be when he found out his son had helped us do just that?

  Would they vote against giving me my crown back? Would I let them?

  Soon enough my exhaustion overtook my worrying, and I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes. Just a few moments, I told myself.

  Just a few moments, came the reply.

  It jolted me until I felt the giant wolf beside me shake with silent laughter.

  Not funny, I told him.

  How much of my inner monologue had he heard.

  Enough to know you need to stop thinking about what you can’t control.

  And enough to know you should keep your mind-reading to yourself unless invited, I shot back.

  His answering snort reminded me a lot of another voice in my head. She, too, had used it to mess with me. For the first time since I’d watched Ben run into the yard with the news of Nightingale’s death on his tongue, I smiled as I thought of her.

  She’s still here, Dominik said, surprising me. In your head. And in your heart too. She always will be.

  I swallowed against the lump in my throat. Thanks, I told him as I drifted off.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I woke to find Xander’s muscled arm around me, and my head leaning against his shoulder, our backs to the wall. The others were all asleep. Dominik snored quietly, causing Jalene’s head, now resting on his ribs, to rise and fall with each breath. Kent had an arm draped over Dom but the tips of his fingers just barely grazed Jalene’s arm. I considered the idea of going back to sleep but reality was too harsh to allow me to relax any longer.

  My throat ached and burned.

  My stomach was in knots.

  I ran a hand over my face, silently cursing the bird-woman. How damn long was she going to make us wait? Or had she abandoned us here in some sort of trap for the Shadows?

  My eyes caught on something just out of reach.

  A jug, dull with age or from the rubbing of hands across the pewter, sat on the ground next to a plate of bread and cheese. My stomach twisted and then promptly growled.

  Already salivating, I gingerly slid out from underneath Xander’s arm and crawled across the floor to the refreshments. My hands closed around the jug first. I tipped it back eagerly. The cool liquid hit my tongue then my throat, and my eyes closed in pure bliss as I gulped mouthfuls of water. I’d never really appreciated the sensation a drink of water provided, but I did now.

  I was halfway through demolishing my first hunk of bread when I remembered four others would need to eat too. The mouthful I was currently chewing would have to last me, I realized, and started to put the rest of it back. Then I spotted the other four jugs and plates, and I sighed in relief that this entire plate of food was mine. Not to mention the water. I glanced back at the others, uncertain about whether to wake them for this or let them sleep.

  Before I could decide, something across the cavern caught my attention. I turned to look, and my gaze snagged on a passage leading out of the room. It wasn’t the one we’d used to get here. It wasn’t even the one the bird-woman had used to abandon us here.

  But something about it called to me. Like a face hidden just beyond the shadows. Or a hand just out of reach. I stared at it, hoping my eyes would focus into the darkness, and I could make out the shape of whatever lay beyond.

  There was a sense of movement there. A presence.

  I squinted harder and then blinked just as a dim light flickered on, illuminating the tunnel. Just inside the doorway, a bird stared back at me, a lantern swinging lightly in her very human hand. This bird was much smaller than the first one I’d met which made the whole thing slightly less intimidating—if I didn’t focus too hard on the fact that it’d may have been watching me sleep like a total creeper.

  I considered calling out or waking the others, but I did neither of those things. Something about it just standing there…

  It wanted me.

  It wanted privacy.

  I set the bread down and stood up, my pulse racing a little. It wasn’t here to hurt me—at least I was mildly sure of that. If it was, I was going to have to deduct points for not trying it while I was knocked out.

  I wouldn’t be a very easy target now.

  I took a step forward, then another. The bird didn’t move to meet me, instead merely watched as if waiting for me to close the distance.

  An idea struck. Before I could question the wisdom of it, I doubled back and knelt by Xander’s pocket. With careful fingers, I reached inside and slid the key out. I closed my fingers around it and slid the slender piece of metal into my pocket before pushing to my feet again.

  Hopefully, by the time Xander woke, I’d have an explanation as to why a bird in a tunnel had made me decide to steal this from him.

  When I glanced back again, the bird was still there. Still waiting.

  I kept my steps silent and increased my pace as I crossed the cavern toward where she stood. Because it was definitely a she.

  Up close, the bird’s feathers were beautiful; mint green that shimmered and seemed to morph into aqua or teal where the light danced off them. She watched me with a feminine face—human, just like the other—with high cheekbones and smooth skin the same shade of mint as the rest of her. Thick lashes framed large eyes—human eyes. No more black beads for irises, and I was sort of glad. It was a little more settling this way.

  Even as a bird, she was beautiful.

  “Hello,” I said quietly.

  No answer beyond the steady stare as she watched me approach.

  When I’d nearly reached the opening, she whirled and headed deeper into the tunnel. Not sure what else to do, I followed. My heart pounded loudly with each step, but not like before. My magic lay calm and quiet inside me, no trace of the panic or power that had risen at the threat of Shadows outside.

  I told myself that meant this bird-woman was safe. Or at least not out to get me killed.

  We had only gone a short distance when the path opened into a larger room. In the center was an old well with a stone ledge ringing the opening. A bucket operating on a rope pulley sat on one side. The bird-woman stopped beside it and turned to face me.

  “Alina, thank you for speaking with me.” Her voice was pleasant and even and didn’t have nearly as much as a squeak to it as her orange friend’s did.

  “Who are you?” I asked.

  “My name is Yasmi. I‘ve been waiting for you.”

  I frowned. Waiting how long, exactly? “How do you know me?”

  “You are Alina Leone, daughter of Hestia and Canicus Leone, rulers of Zorovia, the light planet. Once upon a time, Zorovia was known throughout all seven systems. Everyone knew you and your family—and loved them.”

  I didn’t see the point in denying it. I was in too deep for that. “Why have you been waiting for me?”

  “You seek the medallion.”

  I felt a trickle of anticipation slide through me. “Do you know where it is?”

  She bowed her head. “I am the keeper.”

  I wasn’t sure whether that was a “yes,” but hadn’t Dominik said the bird people had once been keepers of something?

  “What does that mean?” I asked. “Keeper of the medallion?”

  “And other secrets,” she said. “You have something for me.” She held out a small human hand attached to the end of her wing.

  “Right.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out the key, but I stopped short of handing it over.

  Yasmi seemed to understand. From somewhere inside the folds of her feathers, Yasmi produced a small wooden box. It was decorated with strange, ornate carvings across the lid that looked like a rough attempt to replicate the shape of the key I now held.

  Rather than ask for the key again, Yasmi held out the box. “If the key fits the lock, the contents inside belong to you.”

  I stepped forward and inserted the key, jumping a little when I heard the distinct click as the lock sprang free.

  Yasmi and I shared a smile.

  She opened the lid slowly, and I craned my neck to see inside.

  “Open your hand, Alina.”

  Yasmi’s fingers brushed mine as a weighted object landed against my palm. I looked down at the smooth rounded stone, its hard angles glittering in the low light and throwing rainbow-hued reflections across the walls.

  I wrapped my fingers around it and lifted it out, testing the weight.

  “It’s warm,” I said.

  “The medallion of Eloishia was forged from the lava stones of Sakurajima. Fired at dawn and frozen solid under a moonless night. This stone is light and dark. Fire and ice. It will withstand all the magic of the galaxies.”

  “Wow. That’s…big,” I said, a little overwhelmed at her explanation. “I’m holding something made by the Goddess herself.”

  “How does it feel?” Yasmi asked, a soft smile on her lips.

  “Small,” I admitted.

  Yasmi smiled. “Good.”

  “Thank you,” I told her, closing my fist around the stone. “For keeping it safe.”

  “You have your mother to thank for that. She always saw the strength of a people so well.”

  “She was a great woman,” I agreed. “I miss her every day.”

  Yasmi laid a small hand on my cheek, her green eyes sparkling as she said, “She is with you always.”

  I blinked back hot tears, nodding wordlessly.

  “Now,” Yasmi said, drawing a deep breath as she dropped her hand away and tucked her wing in again. “Your friends are waking up. They will be worried about you. It’s time for us to go back. Are you ready?”

  “Yes, but… How do I use it?” I asked, holding the rock out between us.

  “I cannot answer that.” Yasmi smiled back at me. “But you’ll figure it out.”

  She turned and led the way back into the tunnel, grabbing her lantern on the way. I followed her out, tucking the stone into my pocket and wishing I felt as sure as she’d sounded about how to use this thing now that I had it.

  Maybe Kent would know. Maybe his dreams would tell him.

  All I knew was that the medallion was ours—and with it, we were that much closer to defeating Tharos. The stone heated against my hip, almost as if it were aware of what lay ahead. As if it wanted the battle just as much as I did. I smiled to myself, patted the stone, and marched faster.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Even before we made it back to the cavern, I knew the others had woken. Raised voices reached me first, Xander’s low tone mixing with another that was too high-pitched to belong to my friends. I caught a few words—“threat,” “unwanted,” and “enemy”—before Dominik’s low growl cut off whoever had spoken. Yasmi increased her pace. I followed, tense and a little guilty for running off without letting them know where I’d gone. It dawned on me too late that I could have used my connection with Dominik to do it. But apparently the mental wall I’d put up after he’d barged into my head the last time was still holding up.

  The moment Yasmi and entered, Xander looked over followed quickly by the others. Their gazes flickered over to Yasmi questioningly and then back to me. I avoided Xander’s glare in favor of studying the orange bird who’d decided to join us again. I also noted the plates were mostly empty. At least they’d found the food and drink.

  And their faces showed it. Jalene, especially, looked better. Her skin had more color and her eyes were much more focused than they’d been before.

  “Where have you been?” Xander demanded.

  In answer, I gestured to Yasmi. “Guys, this is Yasmi. Yasmi, this is Xander, Jalene, Kent, and Dominik.”

  “Dominik, it’s so good to see you again,” Yasmi said warmly.

  Dominik bowed his head. “And you, Keeper. It has been a long time.”

  “Hello,” Yasmi said to the others.

  “Hi,” Jalene said, a friendly smile replacing the suspicion that had been there a moment ago.

  “Hey,” Kent said, his frown solidly in place.

  I took one look at Xander’s expression and decided to skip the niceties in favor of explanations. “Yasmi is the keeper of the medallion stone, appointed by my mother a long time ago. And this,” I said as I withdrew the stone and opened my hand, “is the medallion.”

  “Whoa,” Jalene said as they all leaned in to study it.

  “You found it,” Kent said, blinking at me when he’d torn his gaze from the stone.

  “We found it,” I corrected him, and his lips curved at that.

  “I believe this is yours.” Yasmi held the key out for Kent.

  He looked at it nervously and then back to her. “Uh, you can keep it,” he said

  “My turn as keeper has ended.” Yasmi reached into the folds of her wings and produced the box. She held that out too.

  Kent started to shake his head and then stopped. “I know you,” he blurted.

  She tilted her head, a knowing smile on her lips.

  “I saw you,” Kent amended. “In my dreams. But…” He glanced down at her body and then back again. “You’re a bird?”

  “I am many forms in many realities,” she told him. “But I am always the protector. The keeper. And now, it is your turn.”

  My eyes widened.

  Kent looked dumbstruck. “I don’t understand,” he said, taking the box uncertainly. He turned it over in his hands but made no move to take the key. I couldn’t blame him after the weirdness of the last time.

  “The medallion is meant to be kept under lock and key,” Yasmi explained. “It is the job of a keeper to see that it stays there, allowing it free only when the balance of the universe must be restored. I suspect your dreams have told you that already.”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “The key passes to the keeper,” Yasmi added. “That is now you.”

  Kent blinked at her.

  “What? This wasn’t a part of your oracle reading?” Jalene asked dryly.

  “Not exactly,” Kent said.

  Jalene reached for the key. Yasmi relinquished it with a knowing smile, and Jalene slipped it into Kent’s pocket.

  “Thank you,” Jalene told her.

  Yasmi bowed her head.

  “Congratulations on your quest,” said the orange bird. Her black eyes had narrowed to almost slits as she pinned me with an accusatory stare. “Now you go. You have led the enemy right to our door, and it is your responsibility to lead them away again.”

  “The enemy?” I looked to Dominik and then Xander.

  “Shadows,” Xander said quietly. “A lot of them.”

  I shook my head. “How do you—”

  “They scouted the valley,” Jalene said.

  “How many?” Yasmi asked the other bird-woman

  “A legion at least,” she spat then pointed a gnarled finger at us from underneath the folds of her wing. “This is their doing. They will be the sacrifice.”

  “Phillipa,” Yasmi admonished. She turned to me. “Forgive my friend. The Pterradans don’t take to guests. Or change. It is the way of the keepers.”

  “Or the threat of death,” Phillipa snapped.

  I couldn’t blame her there.

  Yasmi went on like Phillipa hadn’t spoken, “The tunnel exits are protected by magic. Tharos’ magic cannot detect or pass through them.”

  “Which is why my mother chose this place to hide the medallion,” I said.

  Yasmi nodded. “Precisely. And it means you’re safe as long as you’re inside these walls.”

  “These walls are for Pterradans,” Phillipa pointed out.

  “These walls are for the protection of the light,” Yasmi corrected.

  Phillipa’s eyes narrowed, and I decided to head her off and do some damage control.

  “Phillipa’s right, though,” I said. “We can’t stay here forever, and the longer we wait, the more time we give them to organize.” I looked at Xander and the others. “We need to get home with the medallion as soon as possible.”

  “Are there any other portals left?” Dominik asked.

  Yasmi shook her head. “No, there is only one in the valley but now that they know you’re here…”

  “The Shadows will destroy it before we can get there,” I said, realizing how little time we probably had.

  “This is why they left it standing,” Xander said grimly. His eyes were flat, his expression hard. “To lure us in.”

  Yasmi nodded sadly. “I’m afraid so.” She flicked an apologetic gaze at Kent. “You had to come. I couldn’t tell you. I’m sorry.”

  Kent looked a little lost for words.

  “They’re already assembling,” Phillipa warned.

  “We don’t have enough time to go back the way we came,” Jalene said.

  Dominik looked at Yasmi. “We’ve already asked so much,” he began.

  But she nodded, clearly aware of whatever he was hinting at. “Phillipa—”

  “Absolutely not,” Phillipa cut in. Her beady eyes flashed, and she turned to walk away. Or, more accurately, waddle.

  “Phillipa!” Yasmi’s voice was sharp and held no trace of the gentleness she’d used until now.

  The orange bird turned, still glaring, but with a little less venom in her expression.

  “This is your last rite as a keeper, and you will honor your vow,” Yasmi told her.

  Phillipa scowled but bowed her head grudgingly.

  “Please get Lorn and Staq and meet us in the upper observatory,” Yasmi added.

  Phillipa offered one more curt nod and then turned and left.

  Yasmi offered the rest of us a soft smile, transforming instantly back to the meek mint bird I’d come to know. “We can get you to the portal, but once you’re there, my people cannot help.”