Had I managed to wander into another world, and could I go back?

Was it possible to enter Dis’s realm without dying?

I swallowed thickly, my chest tightening at the idea of seeing my mother again. I cleared my throat, forcing down the tears threatening my eyes at the thought, and focused on the book, pausing when I came to a spell that looked familiar. It was one Ana had taught us to chant on the night of the full moon before we had been viciously attacked. She had said it was a containment spell, but this…this detailed a resurrection spell.

I frowned, confused.

Perhaps I was mistaken, and the words were slightly different. As I began to compare from memory, Adrian entered the tent.

I closed the book and met his gaze, but he was not looking at me. Instead, he was focused on removing his gloves. He was soaked; water beaded off his clothes and his hair was plastered to his head. He looked beautiful to me, though severe, and while I knew he would be cold, I still wanted him near. I wanted to tell him about my mother and the things she had said, but there was something off about him. I could not help the element of guilt that came as I prepared to run if he looked at me with any glow in his eyes, but he sighed, and when he turned to me, they were as dim as ever.

“Are you okay?” I asked, setting the spell book aside.

“Sable and Lucia have returned,” he said. “It seems Gavriel grossly underestimated Alaric’s army.”

“By how much?”

“They say he has nearly one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers at his command now,” he replied—which was as large as Adrian’s army, except we had only brought half.

“So he and Julian have turned more people?” I asked. “My people.”

Adrian nodded.

I should have expected we would not reach Lara in time to save any of them. I wondered who had turned willingly and who had been forced.

“Do we have a chance against them?” I asked.

“Our army is far more skilled, and as you are aware, it takes time for vampires to develop their powers.”

It was not the answer I was looking for, but I knew Adrian was right. I had barely developed powers since he had turned me. The greatest change was my thirst. I would be better off fighting this battle in my aufhocker form than anything else.

It was an idea I had been toying with since we learned of Alaric’s invasion. I had gotten a taste of that form’s strength and power when fighting the vârcolac and nothing compared.

“But you are still worried,” I said.

I did not like when Adrian worried. He was usually so confident, overly so. He tapped his fingers against the tabletop as he stood near the fire, staring into the flame.