“Enough!” I shouted, my voice breaking. “Stop lying to me, Isaak! It’s over.” I couldn’t even summon the energy to cry this time. I felt numb inside. Like I was already dead.

I had been a fool, hadn’t I? I’d been so desperate, so eager, that I hadn’t even considered the implications. If we had changed time, I wouldn’t even be here. Of course that plan had been destined to fail. My very existence was proof of it. I should have known immediately that Isaak was not an Iamoi from the future. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Just like Melusin said.

“So, kyrin. What will you do now?” the Liberator’s voice said in my ear. I jumped, startled—I’d forgotten he was there. I’d been so focused on Isaak’s revelation, I hadn’t even noticed that the transmission from the gerotus had ended.

“What do you want from me?” I asked, my voice feeling heavy.

“I want the same thing you do, kyrin,” the Liberator said. “What if there was a way to save Iamos?”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “There’s not,” I snapped.

“Gitrin disagrees,” the Liberator said, “and she’s not the only one. Have you spoken to your partner recently?”

I froze as the meaning of his words hit me. I hadn’t seen him all day. What if…

“What do you know about Ceilos?” I asked.

The Liberator chuckled. “Don’t worry about him, kyrin. He’s safe.”

My fingernails dug into the soft skin of my palm. “Where is he?”

“Really, kyrin. Don’t prove the geroi right, now. You’re smarter than that. Ceilos is with me. If you want him, you’re going to have to come to me. N’elytherios tou shenos.”

There was silence, and then the System told me, “Communication terminated.”

Isaak looked up at me, twisting his earpiece between his fingers. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” I snapped. “Initiate communication. Subject: Ceilos.”

“Subject Ceilos is unresponsive.”

My stomach twisted up. It was true. It had to be. First Gitrin, now Ceilos.

I was alone.

“Where are you going?” Isaak asked. I hadn’t even realized it, but I was already halfway out the door.

“I don’t know,” I said. “To rescue Ceilos.” I might not be able to save Iamos, but maybe I could at least save him.

“Wait, Ceilos?” Isaak hurried after me into the hallway. “You mean he has Ceilos now, too?” When I didn’t respond, he said, “But how are you going to find them?”

“I don’t know! All right? I don’t know, I don’t know.” I really was a fool. How could I ever be a gerouin, when I never had the answers?

“Wait, Nadin—” Isaak put a hand on my shoulder. It was gentler than I expected, considering how angry I felt toward him. “Maybe I can help you.”