I may not be able to control my powers, but I have them for a reason. I am claiming this title for a reason. The only way to honor my mother and her sacrifices, and the sacrifices of the women before us, is to face every challenge head-on. They ran so I would not have to—not from the Order, this responsibility, this title, or these powers.

“Don’t be scared,” I whisper to the girl in the mirror. “Don’t be scared. Fight.”

10

BY THE TIME I step outside, the sun is near setting. Most of the ceremony guests have left, and the lot is empty. Except for one single armored car waiting at the curb with the back passenger door already open. I’d first laid eyes on this vehicular monstrosity this morning outside the Lodge when Lark picked me up to take me to Pembray. He’d called it the “Beast.”

I’d asked him why the hell the car had a name and why I couldn’t just ride with the other Legendborn. He said Beasts I through IV are named after the armored cars the president rides in to protect him during transport from place to place. Except these cars are designed specifically to transport valuable Order members like me and the Regents: each Beast weighs seven tons, is equipped with silver weapons strapped to the inside of the doors and beneath the seats, has silver seams embedded in the panels to help Merlins call on aether if necessary, and boasts seven-inch-thick doors with quadruple-layered windows. Frankly, it looks like it could withstand a small missile blast.

When I reach the passenger side door, Lark is in the driver’s seat, facing straight ahead. His jacket is gone and his dress shirt sleeves are rolled up, displaying more of his tattoos. Right away I note that his right hand is bandaged.

I slip inside the back passenger side, close the heavy-ass door, and release a slow breath as I settle into the seat. I catch Lark’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “I’m sorry I broke your hand. I didn’t mean to, but I still did it and that’s not okay.”

He cracks a small grin in return. “I know ye didn’t mean to, lass. I’ve had worse breaks, believe me. It’s half-healed now, but I appreciate and accept the apology.” His face sobers a bit. “I owe ye an apology, as well.”

My mouth twists. “Because you knew about Sel and didn’t tell me.”

He nods slowly. “Aye.”

Frustration boils within me. “Why?”

Lark sighs. “Because Kane asked me not to.”

“What?” I sit up straight, thoughts churning.

Lark shrugs. “I’ll hand it to him. Kane is… astute. He guessed something was up. Caught me before I left the Lodge last night. I think he was worried about what ye would do before the Regents arrived if ye kent Erebus and Cestra were coming for him.”