Papa reached his arm around to draw Sora into their embrace. Grief and joy mixed in her chest: sadness that Mama was gone but happiness that Hana might finally be back.

“You have to be all in,” Sora said. “One false move, one indication that you’re still loyal to Prince Gin, and I won’t hesitate to act against you. We serve Sola and Luna, Kichona, and Empress Aki. That much must be clear. There are a lot of good people’s souls at stake, including yours and mine.”

“I swear to you,” Hana said.

“That’s all fine and good, but I need proof, too,” Sora said. “I have an idea for a good first step.”

Hana looked at her expectantly.

Sora gestured at their small group. “There are only four of us that can fight. Five, if we can depend on you. But that’s not enough. We need to build our army.”

“Just tell me what you need and I’ll get it,” Hana said.

“I want Tidepool as our prisoner.”

“Why?”

“No questions. Can you do it or not?”

Hana bit her lip. But then her uncertainty gave way to the commander she’d become, and she set her jaw and nodded curtly. “Give me ten minutes.”

She ran away.

“I don’t know,” Daemon said. “What if she’s going to get reinforcements? Now’s our chance. I can manage flying everyone out of here. We can still get Empress Aki out of harm’s way and come up with a final plan to stop the Dragon Prince.”

Sora hesitated. But then she said, “Take the empress, Papa, Fairy, and Broomstick and fly high, out of reach.”

“What about you?”

She looked at the empress, who nodded. “I’m going to give my sister a chance,” Sora said. “Ten minutes, and if she comes back fighting us, get everyone else to safety.”

“I won’t leave you.”

“You’re not. You’ll be right above me. Swoop down and someone will pull me up if it comes to that.”

Daemon grumbled about it, but he stooped to allow Empress Aki, Papa, Fairy, and Broomstick to climb onto his back. He flew them up into the air.

Sora’s stomach tied itself into knots as she counted down the minutes.

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, . . .

Three, two, one . . .

Zero.

Just a little longer. It wasn’t an easy task she’d given Hana.

Sora decided to allow two more minutes.

But that time also passed.

Disappointed, Sora raised her arm to signal Daemon to come back. They had to get out of here if her sister had double-crossed her and was preparing again to attack.

But then Hana reappeared through the bushes with Tidepool, a dagger against Tidepool’s throat.

“A ryuu who controls the sea,” Hana said. “As requested.”

A wry smile blazed across Sora’s face. “It’s the perfect reunion gift, Hana. Thank you.”

Chapter Fifty-Five