“It’s fine,” she said, not looking at him. Instead, she peered at Hassan. “So it’s true?”

He nodded. “Yes. And I think that means we have an opportunity. We can use this to lead the Witnesses into a trap.”

“No,” Hector said, stepping between them. “We are not using Beru as bait. It’s way too dangerous. I don’t care if you think she’s—”

“That’s not what I was saying at all,” Hassan cut in. “I agree. We can’t risk the Witnesses getting anywhere near her. But we can use this to make them think they are.”

Ephyra looked concerned. “But if she takes off the—”

“I’ll do it,” Beru said at once. She could feel the god’s satisfaction. But she also knew that this was the only way they would make it out of the caverns alive. “I … I can hold off the god myself like I did on the beach. I don’t need the collar.”

She injected as much certainty as she could into her voice.

Hector’s gaze was heavy on her, as if he knew it was a bluff.

Beru looked past him to Illya. “Do you still have the key?”

“Wait, he had it the whole time?” Anton asked, alarmed.

“Right here,” Illya said loudly, reaching into a pocket of his jacket.

“Beru,” Ephyra said tersely.

“It’ll be fine,” Beru said, aiming for reassuring. “I won’t let the god take control. No matter what.”

Ephyra fell silent, and the others waited as Illya undid the collar.

It felt like an exhale. Like the god had been pushed into a tiny, shadowed corner of Beru’s mind, but was now unfurling, spilling through her like dark fog. She could feel it beginning to numb her, to fill her with its thoughts. Its relief. Its disdain.

MUCH BETTER, the god said approvingly. YOU THINK SO, TOO, DON’T YOU?

It was better in the sense that the dull, constant pain of the Godfire collar was gone. Now, instead of that pain, she felt hazy. Everything—her fear and her love, even her exhaustion—was filtered through the fog of the god’s mind. She felt heavy and hollow at once.

She raised her arms, the god’s power pouring through her like molten light. Delight sparked in her chest, the sudden thrill of her own limitless power filling her with glee.

NOW LET’S SHOW THEM WHAT WE CAN DO.

A hand gripped her arm. Beru turned and saw Ephyra staring at her, eyes wide and intent.

“Beru?”

Beru focused on the feeling of Ephyra’s fingers wrapped around her arm, the thread of concern in her voice. These were things the god didn’t understand.

I am Beru of Medea, she reminded herself. Ephyra’s sister.

She realized the others were all staring at her, too, various expressions of discomfort and outright terror on their faces.