Erebus walks closer to the barrier. “I have not lived this long without moving strategically in battle, Briana. Without studying my opponents’ histories. I will tell you, Aldrich considered taking your father, but I advised him it was too dangerous a ploy. Too risky to endanger the sole parent of a child who has already lost one—particularly when that child is you.”

I hate that I feel relief. Hate that, for a brief, terrifying moment a vision of my father flashed before my eyes held tight in a Merlin’s arms instead of Patricia, and I was grateful it’s not real.

“You are a girl who had been willing to go to hell and back, even endanger her own life as an outsider in our Order, to enact revenge for her mother’s death. I told the Lord Regent that taking your mentor would be most effective.”

“Are you supposed to thank him?” Alice hisses. She is pacing back and forth nearby, lips curled over her teeth. Her fingers rub over her already donned silver knuckles. “This asshole.”

“Mm-hmm,” Lu agrees.

“Dr. Hartwood is someone you know well, someone you care for, I said, and”—Erebus looks up and over the dome of Volition—“she’s a Rootcrafter. Someone with connections to the very sanctuary in which you have hidden yourself. It would be a shame to harm Dr. Hartwood, but I think you know I would be willing.” Patricia’s eyes are wide above Olsen’s hands. I can hear her muffled shouts.

“Goddamnit,” says Sel.

I grit my teeth. Fury has taken my breath. Turned air into hot knives at my throat, in my chest.

Erebus flashes long fangs. “I propose an exchange. If you, and only you, exit the barrier, you have my word that we will send Dr. Hartwood through, where you know we cannot reach her or anyone else in your party.”

“Don’t even think about it, Bree.” Sel is in front of me, blocking my view of Erebus.

“She’s not replaceable,” I hiss.

“Bree, you are—”

“No one I love is replaceable, Sel. The Order deals death so easily, accepts it so easily, but I refuse. I will never be a king who throws one life away for others.”

But this is Rootcrafter business, on Rootcrafter property. I look between Patricia and Mariah, from Mariah to Lu. Lu nods once. “The ancestors trust you to make the right decision.”

I know what I have to do.

I pull on Sel’s arm. “Do you trust me?”

He replies in an instant. “With my life.”

Alice reaches a hand out to catch mine. “I don’t like the look on your face, Matty.”

“I have a plan,” I say, squeezing her fingers tight before releasing them.

“Does it involve crossing that barrier?” Sel’s eyes narrow.

“That’s the ‘trust me’ part.”

Sel blinks. “I take it back. Don’t trust you.”