Cane’s throat bobbed and he glanced to where Edward’s body had been. “I can’t lose anyone else, Carrier.” The burgundy in his irises darkened. “I…” his eyes slammed closed, “I hate losing people.”

My eyes stung. “So do I.” The crown felt warm in my grip.

“Helen!” Kaley called over the rink. Peeling my stare off Cane, I reluctantly turned to find two-dozen dwarves seated on the log benches, and Apple with a glistening tear in her eye. I huffed in relief, smiling weakly as I moved for Apple, wrinkling my nose at the faint scent of smoke in the air.

My fingertips buzzed as I tapped them, counting. It was such a small group that was left.

Frost crisped my fingers and I stopped. A ribbon of darkness floated into my vision. “No…” My hands flashed out before me as everything turned pitch black. Smoke and screams slithered into my ears and lungs, and I stumbled to my knees as a whirlwind tore at my hair. A loud, barbaric laugh echoed in circles, roaring in my ears.

“And soon they shall all fall…” The deep voice coiled around my bones. “Cane Endovan Crimson-Augustus. Apple Dough. Zane Cohen Margus-Bowswither…” The names burned like a brand against my brain, and I screamed.

A light flickered at my chest; my orb struggled to push back the darkness and make a path, but the claws of blackness dove in and smothered it.

An arm burst in, tattooed symbols glowing as it ripped the blackness apart with a double-bladed weapon. Porethius’s eyes were lavender stars in the dark; she spoke in another language with words I could see leaving her lips:

The darkness screamed in my ears, blasting me with smoke, and I choked. My hand clasped my throat until cool air brushed my lips, and I inhaled, filling my lungs until it hurt. The blackness recoiled, fighting with every slithering limb until the white landscape of snow and trees returned.

The blaze faded from Porethius’s eyes. I thought she’d be furious that I came to the Green Kingdom, but I saw compassion as she extended a strong hand. I blinked, stuck on those words she’d spoken. I didn’t know how my mind had translated the symbols, but chills tightened my skin as the words sunk in:

Withdraw, Serpent! Obey your True King.

My fingers were cold when I took Porethius’s hand. I smelled sugar and plums as she pulled me to my feet. Zane’s electric eyes burned like azure wildfires. He approached, exchanging a look with Kaley.

“You opened your heart to Eliot Gray,” Porethius said. “Your timestring is being tugged this way and that.”

I scooped up the Crown of Pines from the rink, clutching it to my chest. My legs trembled and tiredness rushed through me.