“Has that ever mattered?”

She rose to her feet, spinning slightly. She was weak after three days of being unconscious. But she had waited this long to hear from her. She wouldn’t wait another moment. Fordham put his hand out to steady her, and she was grateful for his support. Clover darted to her other side. Though she looked worse for wear as well. Kerrigan wondered when she’d last had a smoke.

As if reading her mind, Clover said, “Helly lets me use her balcony. She doesn’t approve, but I wanted her to focus on you, not me.”

Kerrigan nodded, and then the trio was in the sitting room. Zina was gesticulating wildly, and Helly had her arms crossed. She looked alarmed.

“You!” Zina said when she caught sight of Kerrigan.

“Hello, Zina,” Kerrigan said calmly. “Find what you were looking for?”

“Unfortunately, yes. I found it and more. Did you do it?”

“Do what?”

Zina floated toward her. Her magic so tight that she didn’t even move her feet. She pointed her finger at Kerrigan. “Did you do it? Don’t lie to me.”

“I’ve been unconscious for three days. I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

“It’s true,” Helly said. “What is this about?”

“The wall came down,” Zina said, clutching her hand to her throat. “The House of Shadows is free.”

Fordham went preternaturally still at those words. “Excuse me?”

“Someone brought down the bloody wall, boy. Are you faint of hearing?”

“You must be mistaken. You can’t even see the wall.”

“Yeah, well, I have eyewitness reports of the wall turning a shimmering blue and dropping like falling stars. Then, poof, the three mountains appeared out of nowhere. People are talking about it for miles.”

“How has this not reached us?” Helly asked.

“I have no idea. Maybe whatever magic kept the mountains hidden kept its destruction hidden as well. How the hell should I know?” Zina demanded. “All I know is that when I flew over to check it out for myself, the House of Shadows military had already trekked out of the mountain and was on the way to Lethbridge.”

Fordham paled. “Oh gods.”

“What?” Kerrigan asked. “What’s Lethbridge?”

“The closest known city to the original borders,” Zina said.

“The humans who we trade with, the ones who managed to escape, they live in Lethbridge,” Fordham said icily. His gaze was distant. “They’re going to take the city.”

“You’re certain?” Helly asked, releasing the days of exhaustion and immediately stepping into the strong Society Council member.

“Yes. They’d do it for the insult of having to debase themselves. Even if expansion wasn’t central,” Fordham said. He met Helly’s gaze evenly. “It would have been my first move.”

She nodded, understanding instantly. “Then, we need to go.”

Zina sighed heavily. “I was afraid you’d say that. You know that most of the aerie is empty?”