They arrived at the north beach a short time later. Val passed the broken husk of a grounded ship Serina said Beach crew used as their home; it was empty, truly abandoned, now that the crew had moved down to Hotel Misery.

They picked their way across the black sand to a spot where old lava poured out in a frozen outcropping, artificially extending the shoreline. Val clambered across the rock to a crevice that would be hidden at high tide. Deep inside, his small sailboat waited.

Serina and Helena helped him drag it out. Malachi went through his supplies one more time. Nomi hugged Maris, her heart thudding painfully.

Then the boat was bobbing on the water, Malachi had boarded and hoisted the sail, and Serina stood on the sand before Nomi.

It was time to say goodbye.

NINE

SERINA

SERINA COULDN’T BEAR it. Her baby sister was putting herself in danger, and the only thing Serina could do for her was give her a knife she didn’t know how to use.

She hugged Nomi tightly, ignoring the searing pain of her broken rib. Within the circle of her arms, her sister felt too small, too delicate for this journey. And Malachi, big, hulking Malachi… Would he keep her safe? What if he betrayed her just like his brother had?

Serina had studied him over the past few days, had watched how he spoke to Nomi. He was gruff and short with everyone, but sometimes she caught him looking at Nomi and his face changed. The tension eased. It was that expression… that softening… she was choosing to trust.

“Journey well, little sister,” she murmured into Nomi’s hair. “Take care of yourself.”

“You too,” Nomi replied, her voice thick with tears. “Don’t take risks, Serina, you understand? I need you to make it to Azura. I’ll send word as soon as it’s safe for you to return. Or… or Renzo and I will come to you. But you must be there. You must be safe.”

Serina nodded, but she couldn’t speak.

This moment was harder than the last time they’d been pulled apart. They hadn’t known what it meant then. But Serina knew what this meant. It meant her whole family would be out there, the object of the new Superior’s wrath, and Serina still had to let Nomi go.

With a wrenching pain too near her heart, Serina pulled herself out of Nomi’s embrace.

“I love you,” she said hoarsely. The harsh sunshine made her squint, surrounding her last view of Nomi with sparks of light.

Tears streamed down Nomi’s cheeks. “I love you too.”

Then, before either of them could change their minds, she turned and climbed aboard Val’s boat.

Serina watched the small boat catch the wind in its sail and slide toward the horizon. She couldn’t keep tears from slipping down her cheeks. It was too much.