A darkbringer with wings the color of blood dragged Eleni, kicking and screaming, to the stage. “Let go of me!” she yelled as fairy dust started to shimmer against her skin, but the darkbringer quickly snapped a collar around her neck. I’d seen collars like that before. They prevented someone from using their magic.

“Do not be afraid, child,” the Lord of Shadows said as one of his ribbons inched toward her. “I will give you one chance to save yourself from an unfortunate fate.”

Eleni kept struggling, but she didn’t speak. Instead, she glanced up at her auntie—at Captain Nulan—as if begging her to help.

“Some of the celestials have run away like the cowards I already knew them to be,” the Lord of Shadows said. “They’ve taken a great deal of the humans with them. You’re going to help me find every single world where a celestial might be hiding.”

Eleni laughed, and it was one sharp note. Captain Nulan curled her lip in disgust, but Eleni straightened her back, her wings shimmering in the moonlight. She tilted her chin up defiantly. “I would rather die ten times over than help you.”

The Lord of Shadows smiled, and somehow his gaunt face looked even narrower. “You forget that I have the amplifier that can steal your guardian powers, but then again, I don’t need it.” He turned toward the crowd and raised his voice. “Why would I need the amplifier when I have a guardian who already serves me?”

I frowned, not understanding. Who was the Lord of Shadows talking about? There were only three guardians: Papa, Eleni, and me. And there was no way either of us would help him under any circumstance.

“That guardian is here now,” he continued. “Among my subjects.”

The darkbringers and other magical creatures glanced around, searching for this mysterious guardian. I looked, too, but my friends were staring at me.

I could feel the hum of magic underneath my skin. It was whispering something to me. I let go of Frankie’s hand, and Zeran and I became visible again. The crowd was so thick that no one noticed us.

“Maya, what are you doing?” Frankie hissed next to my ear.

My lips moved, but I couldn’t answer her. A familiar, slippery voice like birdsong played in my mind—Nulan’s voice. I thought about the last time I had seen her, right before she escaped, leaving Frankie and me on the barren planet. There was a slice of time missing in my memory. One minute I had been fighting Nulan, and the next, she was gone. Why would she leave without finishing me off?

“Frankie, was Maya ever alone with Captain Nulan?” Zeran asked quickly.

“Um, I . . . I don’t know,” Frankie stuttered. “What’s wrong with her?”

Eli’s disembodied voice was grave as he said, “It’s fairy magic.”