“My name is Victorija Dred. It should have been Debrek, but my father took my mother and me away from them when I was young. This is not to make excuses. The things I have done are some of the worst crimes you could commit, and every one of you knows that. All I ask is that you hear my testament.”

Torija told them everything, the very worst she had done, and named some of the spirits as she went.

“I don’t apologize, because how do you apologize for such great harm and evil? I only tell you my story from beginning to end, to show how far I have come, with three such astonishing women influencing me—Angele Brassard, Lucia Debrek, and Daisy MacDougall. Please know that I look on my actions with utter shame. That’s all I can say.”

She watched the spirits huddle together, and she could hear a murmur. Then they started fading away into the light, all except one, a beautiful young woman in eighteenth-century clothing.

“Stand up, Victorija.”

She looked to Lucia and then Angele and stood, and from somewhere deep inside she just knew who this was. “You’re Alexis’s Anna, aren’t you?”

To her utter surprise the woman smiled. “I am Anna, and I’ve been asked to convey the judgement of the group.”

All Torija wanted to do was say sorry, but she was too ashamed to get the words out.

Anna held her hand up. “You don’t have to speak any more. You didn’t ask for forgiveness because you thought your crimes were too great, but your testament touched us, as did your bravery to let love into your heart again and protect Daisy against your very own clan. So, as I say, you didn’t ask it, but you will receive our forgiveness.”

“You’re joking.” Torija was absolutely gobsmacked.

“No, we don’t joke about forgiveness, but there are conditions. You must dedicate your life to protecting Daisy and Amelia, the descendants, with Byron. We have no other chance against the great evil that is to come.”

“But I am dead. How can I protect them?”

Anna smiled and said, “Tell Alexis to let go of the past. I’m so happy that she has found Katie. They are a perfect match.” Then she just faded into the light. Behind her the portal opened back up.

“Grandmother? Angele?”

“You’re going back,” Lucia said.

“What?”

Angele took her hand. “You have passed every test given to you. You chose loyalty to an oath taken so long ago, you turned your back on your clan to save one human, you were the Green Man who met her May Queen and faced your past misdeeds when she asked you to.”