In line with my thoughts, Morgane swept her hand in a burst of magic, and Célie soared through the air, crashing into a Brindelle tree. Two blood witches who’d been trapped here dropped to seize her, to—no. Hope burned savage and bright in my heart. To help her. They were helping her. In that split second, I thought of Manon, of Ismay, or Dame Blanche and Dame Rouge alike who’d been harmed by Morgane’s hatred. Who’d felt trapped between Church and coven. Who’d lived in fear as debilitating as mine.

Hope isn’t the sickness. It’s the cure.

Of all people, of course it had been Célie to find Morgane. To stalk her unseen as she slipped through the city. My mother never would’ve suspected it. She never would’ve believed such a pretty porcelain doll could grow teeth. If she thought Célie would shatter, however—if she thought I would—it would be the last mistake of her life.

This time, I wouldn’t hesitate.

“Lou! LOU! Célie!”

Reid, Coco, Beau, Jean Luc—they called our names in a frenzy, voices blending into one. Resolve hardened to a sharpened point in my chest as I looked at them. We’d already lost so much, each of us. Fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers. Our homes. Our hope. Our very hearts.

No more.

I found Reid’s gaze last, holding it longer than the others. When I shook my head slowly, determinedly, he drew to a swift halt, chest heaving. We stared at each other for the span of a single heartbeat.

Then he nodded.

I love you, I told him.

As I love you.

Morgane sneered, lowering the hood of Auguste’s lion-skin cloak as she advanced. She’d stolen it from his corpse at the cathedral. Though charred black in places, she wore it as a trophy now. Its teeth glinted around her throat in a gruesome smile, and its mane spread proudly across her shoulders. “No more running, Louise. No more hiding.” She jabbed a finger across the chasm, where Blaise and the remains of his pack had gathered. Where Elvire and her melusines still attempted to cross, where Claud had fallen to fate unknown. “Your god has fallen, your dragon has perished, and your precious allies cannot reach you here. I must admit . . . you are far cleverer than I ever gave you credit. How cunning it was to hide behind those more powerful than yourself. How cruel. We are more alike than you realize, darling, but the time has come at last. You are alone.”