After that, it was chaos. The shrieks had the others rushing in, and a kaleidoscope of voices shouted “Are you okay?” and “We were so worried!” and “Chamundeshwari said you’d both been captured, how did you get out?” and “Who is that?”

Then Simha let out a roar, which silenced everyone immediately. The Good Witch cleared her throat. “I am the Good Witch,” she said with a very dignified curtsy. “We just escaped Lalith Mahal.”

“Kiki, you did it!” Suki said happily. “You got her out!”

“Is Chamundeshwari okay?” I croaked. “She was still fighting the Asuras when we were snatched away.”

“She hurt her shoulder, but she’s all right,” Ashwini said. I felt her hand on my arm, squeezing affectionately, but I was still huddled over Pip and hadn’t looked up. “We were about to come rescue you, but I have to admit I’m relieved we don’t have to! I’m so glad you’re both okay.”

“Kiki,” Lej said. I think it was the first time he had ever actually said my name. His voice was full of dread. “Why are you holding Pip like that? Is he unconscious?”

“Come on,” Ashwini said gently. She put an arm around me and tugged me away from Pip. I let him go reluctantly, my heart cold. “Let’s see what’s—”

And then all the color drained out of her face and she stopped abruptly, her eyes fixed on Pip. Jojo sucked in a sharp breath. Suki let out a shrill cry.

Ashwini’s lower lip wobbled. “No,” she said. “No, no, no. This isn’t happening. This shouldn’t have happened!”

Lej knelt on the rug beside Pip and searched frantically for a pulse. His eyes were wet. “How?” he asked gruffly.

“The demon king threw him,” said the Good Witch.

Ashwini didn’t reply immediately. She seemed to have lost all sense of reality. Her eyes were fixed on Pip and she just kept whispering “This shouldn’t have happened” over and over. My heart went out to her. She was only thirteen years old and she had given everything to keep the Crows safe, but she hadn’t been able to save Pip.

Because I had gone and gotten him killed.

Voices rose and fell around me, but I couldn’t hear them. I sat back on my knees and bit my lip hard. All I could think about was how Pip had looked in his final moments, so much braver than I would ever be.

Then Simha offered to take Pip to Chamundeshwari, who would be able to make sure he was honored and cremated. Ashwini was clearly unwilling to let him go, but she nodded and Simha left.

“Well,” said the Good Witch, “I must go, too. Chikoo trees won’t grow themselves.”

No one even tried to make sense of that, but Ashwini said, “Wait.” Her voice cracked, but she pulled herself together and wiped away her tears. “We still have to banish Mahishasura, now more than ever. Can you undo the protection spell on Mysore Palace?”