“I only fight for what I believe in,” I spit, and dig my thumbs into his eyes. “Surpizah,” I say, before he can react.

He screams. Sticky magic seeps from my fingers. The glob of white energy pins his eyes shut. I grip his roots and yank. A scream rips from his throat. Julius grabs me by the arm, and we run, booking it like a hundred-meter dash down the hallway.

We bluster past people who stare and whisper. But no one stops us. And that’s how I know Shaun’s leadership will be short lived. When the Ancestors restore everyone’s magic, they’ll have the strength to fight and protect themselves from even him if they choose.

“Faster!” I shout to Julius, and I pound the ground as hard as I can. We round the hallway, skirting each corner, then another. The ladder up to the ground comes into view and Julius throws himself up it, climbing lightning fast.

“Back to the Yiyo?” he asks, panting.

“Yes, to the Ancestors’ grave. At High Moon, we raise the dead.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

THE SKY IS A stormy ocean sort of blue, stars peeking between the thick jpango leaves of the canopy as we hurry toward Yiyo. Unsure of the state of things over that way, I transported us to the very edge of the forest. But the actual mountain, which sits beside the Ancestors burial ground, is still a decent hike away.

“Aye, wait up.” Julius keeps up behind me.

The time to cast the spell is when the moon is highest in the sky, so there’s still a bit of time to go. I pray it works. My mind is a haze of confusion. Anger still courses through me. It’s like I’m teetering on the edge of a cliff and my next move will either blow me back to solid footing or knock me off completely. I can’t breathe at this altitude. I can’t think.

I stop and pull the empty potion vial out of my pocket. I turn it in my hands, the truth of it searing into me all over again. I close my eyes and see Rahk, smoke billowing from Yiyo, screaming rattles ’round in my head. Jhamal pressing the poison to my lips. The Patrol he’d conspired with. Kai hugged around him.