“However, my countrymen are shortsighted in their isolationist tendencies. Had your armistice held, peacetime would have allowed you to develop better technology, more sophisticated warfare. You may have hoped to catch up to us in a few decades. But if Cernosians were to seize magic for ourselves, we could secure our place on the global stage. We could spread our greatness instead of hoarding it. We could save countries like you from yourselves, give you the proper guidance.”

Lowry tipped his chin toward Wren again, his eyes blazing with righteous fervor. “All I need is your help to demonstrate the procedure can be done. That a magic as detestable as his can be harnessed. Once Cernosians have magic, the world will finally know peace. Under our reign, no one will suffer again.”

“No. Never,” Wren spat. “You’re even more delusional than I thought if you think you can save the world by conquering it.”

Anger colored his cheeks for only a moment. He drew in a calming breath, and when he spoke again, his voice was cold and measured. “Your loyalty is misplaced. Nothing but this alliance can stop the war I’ve set in motion. As for him, he’ll leave in the end. Do you really expect him to sacrifice his reputation to be with you? His family? His home? Would you be so cruel to ask him to?”

“Stop talking.” Wren allowed her voice to go entirely flat. “You can’t manipulate me anymore. No matter what you do, no matter what I lose, I will never help you. I would sooner die.”

“I tried to be generous with you.” Lowry raised the knife again, pointing it directly at Wren. Its tip still shone crimson with blood. “Talk sense to her, Cavendish, or I will—”

But he never finished his sentence. Lowry broke into tremors, his eyes flung wide.

It was a look of pure terror.

Wren slowly turned to see Hal, the fola around his eyes lit silver, his gaze locked on Lowry’s. Lowry began to scream, and Hal winced. Every time Wren had seen his magic at work, his victims had perished silently. She knew she’d healed him incompletely, but she hadn’t anticipated this.

It only took a few seconds before Lowry collapsed, saliva dribbling from the corner of his mouth. He wasn’t dead, judging by his heaving sides and panicked breathing. His eyes were glassy and somewhere far away.

A trickle of blood welled up from Hal’s right eye and carved a crimson line down his face. He sucked in a pained breath through his teeth and applied pressure to his eye with the heel of his palm.

“That was our last resort,” Wren said. “Our very last resort.”

Hal stooped down to retrieve the blade Lowry had dropped, his eyebrows drawn together. “I know. I didn’t know what he was going to do. I thought he might hurt you. I just … reacted.”