And suddenly I understand. My hair’s premature gray isn’t the sign of how much power I’m using. It’s not Liege hair. It’s the sign of Arthur… and I know in my gut that I earned it from walking in our shared blood for long stretches of time.

The world around us melts away. A silver-blue sphere barrier snaps into place to surround me and my ancestor, and then the world is just me and the king.

I hear Sel shouting my name, but the sound outside the small dome is muted. I don’t know if I am casting it, or Arthur, or both of us together. Sel bangs on the barrier with both fists, but it doesn’t break or dent.

Arthur takes two steps forward to examine me. I raise my chin.

“You are exactly as I thought you would be, on this plane.” He lifts a translucent finger to my temple, tugging at the curl of white hair that matches his own. “My bri.”

I jerk away. “Don’t touch my hair.” I grit my teeth. “Just do it.”

One bushy brow lifts, and the left side of his mouth follows suit. Amusement coloring his face and his voice, he says, “You finally summon me in full when Camlann is upon the world and your own Court rises against you, and this is how you treat me?”

“Yes,” I spit.

His eyes flash, molten silver turned to steel. He holds out his hand, palm up. “Say the words, Briana.”

Sel is still shouting, and Alice has joined him. They bang on the barrier together, punching at it in silent blows. But instead of hearing the words they say, I look at them and hear their voices from earlier, and wonder what would happen if I let myself believe them. If I could be the person they see: the girl who was already powerful, even when she didn’t think she was. The girl who was already their king.

You’re also the most wondrous being I have ever encountered…. And I believe there is nothing in this world that you cannot do.

Matty, you’re incredible. The strongest person I know, even before all of this.

And Nick, who saw me from the beginning. You know I think you can do anything, take on anything and anyone in the world….

I can do this.

I grasp Arthur’s hand in mine and squeeze. “By my blood, on my heart… to unite us in spirit, and in flesh.”

Together.

Together.

Together we approach the barrier.

We step close, directly before Erebus.

His red eyes don’t see us yet.

We don’t have to coordinate, or talk to each other, because we are one. We step through to the other side, the barrier of Volition opening before us with a loud crack, then closing behind us with a low boom.

Our voices mingle, a deep thunder of sound. “An exchange.”