Page 223 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

“Malachi took over someone else’s body, and that person is still alive inside. Is there a way to save them while getting rid of Malachi?”

He stares at me for so long that I squirm, afraid I’ve somehow offended him. “There is no scenario where he will survive.”

I nod. “Thank you.” Not the answer I wanted, or the one Sofie will accept, which means she’s back to being our enemy.

Aminadav steps in, herding me backward. “Unless you are summoning us for another request, so soon after you promised you would not again.” Strong hands seize my waist as he hoists me onto the altar and fits his hips between my thighs. “This one will cost you now, Queen for All.”

I swallow my rising panic as the Fate of Earth’s daunting frame looms over me, his meaning clear. He would break me in two. “I’m good, thanks.”

“Then we are finished here.”

I blink and they’re both gone, but his grip still burns.

Footfalls sound and a moment later, Zander, Jarek, and Abarrane are at my side.

“What happened?” Zander seizes my trembling hands, the horn still within my grasp. “Which one did you see?”

“Both.”

“Both of them!” Agatha sputters, easing up to the pavilion.

“I summoned Vin’nyla and Aminadav came too. They made some sort of deal.” Did all that just happen or did I imagine it?

“I’ve never heard of such a thing!”

“That is because you have never met the Queen for All.” Lucretia closes in. “My master is valuable.”

“Did they hurt you or make you do anything?” Zander asks through clenched teeth.

I shake my head. But I can never summon them again, that much is clear.

His head bows with his heavy sigh of relief. “What did they say?”

“Aminadav said to consider my request granted. Not forever, but for now. He will block the Nulling for us.”

“And you believe him?” Zander clearly doesn’t, given the doubt in his tone.

I shrug. “We’ll see what happens at the rift tonight before we celebrate.”

“Did they say anything else?” Agatha asks.

“Yes.” I struggle to pick through my frazzled thoughts. “Malachi’s fire burns forever, and there is no way to separate him from Sofie’s husband unless I wish to make it an official request of the fates, and that will cost me.”

“No.” Zander shakes his head firmly. “You will not be punished for Sofie’s mistakes. What about this horn? Did he tell you what it will do?”

I peer down at the token in my hand. If Zander learns what I’ve just done, that I’ve sacrificed myself for the realm, he’s liable to throw the horn into the rift so I can never use it. I can’t tell him the truth. I have to bear the weight of this on my shoulders alone, in his own words. “Just that the cost will be great.”

Jarek turns to Lucretia. “What does that mean?”

“My old masters do not explain themselves any more than the fates do.”

“It means we do not use this unless we are moments from death.” Zander takes the horn and tucks it into my satchel, and then collects my hands in his. His eyes shine with pride and something I haven’t seen much of lately—hope. “For now, we will claim this victory, and it is not a small one, if the Nulling is truly closed. You, Romeria, have just given us a fighting chance.”

I smile and nod.

But I don’t miss the way Agatha watches me, her eyebrows drawn together with worry.

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