Page 50 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

I tossed on a couple more logs from the box against the wall then used my magic to light them, not wanting to waste time waiting for them to catch. In seconds, the fire was burning brightly, casting dancing shadows over the rows of books and ancient scrolls Sonoma had left on the table.

“Why are we here?” I repeated.

“Hotter.” Her silver eyes locked with mine. “Use your magic. Make it burn as bright and hot as you possibly can.”

“Why?” I asked warily.

Maybe this was a test?—

“We’re going to do a summoning.”

I stilled. “Who are we summoning?”

Sonoma didn’t look up as she gathered stones from where Lesha had dumped them in the corner after the last time she’d tried—and failed—to contact the Fates. Vorinthian runes had been carved into the flat sides of each one. Amanti had brought them back from a scouting mission. Just before she’d left for Vorinthia.

“The Fates?” I pressed when she didn’t answer.

“No,” Sonoma said, moving toward the hearth with the stones. Her silhouette slanted across the rug as she bent down, placing the stones in a half-circle.

A line of protection between the fire and us.

Despite the heat of the flames, a chill crept up my spine. “Sonoma, who exactly are we calling?”

She stood, turning to face me, her face set in grim determination. “The Furiosities.”

My blood turned to ice. “What?”

“The Furiosities,” she repeated, her voice steady.

“The Princes of Hel?” My voice rose in disbelief, a wild edge creeping into it. “You—you’re talking about summoning pure darkness.”

“Kings, actually. And yes, they are the only ones who can help now,” Sonoma said, her voice softer but no less firm.

“How can they possibly help us?”

“They are the only beings who know the truth of the magic Heliconia used against us in that curse.”

Heliconia’s dark magic. I wasn’t surprised it had its origins in the Furiosities’ realm. But still… calling them here?

I shook my head, stepping back. “You can’t be serious about this. They’redemons. Pure evil. They don’t help anyone.”

“They’ll help me,” she countered, meeting my eyes with a look so fierce it pinned me to the spot. “They owe me a debt, onethey will answer.”

“How could they possibly owe you anything?”

None of this made sense.

Sonoma served the Fates—the light. What business could she possibly have with the enemy?

Sonoma stood, raising her hands, and I felt the first stirring of magic.

Panic leaped inside me. “Wait. What if they demand payment… something we can’t give?” I asked, still struggling to understand this reckless plan.

Her gaze softened, and it wasn’t fear or even desperation in her eyes when she looked at me. It was sadness. “I know the risks. And the reason I know them is a story longer than we have time for. But the Furiosities won’t hurt us. I need you to trust me on this.”

I looked at her, uncertain. But I trusted no one more than Sonoma.

“You’re sure they’ll help?” I asked quietly.

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