“You must think I’m a fool,” she replies, and my shoulders sag, my emotions cycling between anger and defeat as Zerra makes my head spin.

“No,” I say, rubbing my face and the back of my neck, realizing how filthy and sweaty I am. What I wouldn’t give for a cold shower and some soap right now.

“Besides, you won’t need his help. You already know Aphelion extremely well.”

“Aphelion?”

“You’re friendly with the warder? The rebel leader?”

“I . . . sort of?”

“I want their ark.”

Yeah. I knew she was planning to say that. Fuck me.

“They won’t give it to me.”

“You figured it out once. You can do it again.”

I knew she would say that, too. She folds her hands together, all prim and elegant like a creepy porcelain doll that wakes up at night to murder the family it lives with.

“I can’t steal from Gabriel.”

“Why not?”

I shake my head. I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel right. I already harbor enough guilt for what I did in Alluvion. I can’t leave a trail of destruction everywhere I go. A voice reminds me that I am my grandmother. Her brand of chaos resulted in one big strike, but I’m tearing through Ouranos, knocking things over one at a time. I’m no better.

Zerra gives me a tight smile.

“If your conscience is troubling you, then I guess you’ll have to convince them to give it to you.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“That is not my concern. Not if you want your mate.”

My rage builds with each sentence, charring me from the inside.

“You promised you’d give Nadir back!” My voice rises with every syllable. “And what happens if I get it from Aphelion? You’ll give him back to me then? Why should I believe you? Why would I believe a single fucking thing you say!”

My body trembles as I step towards her. “You lied to me once! Why should I believe you aren’t still lying!”

Zerra takes a step back, matching each of my own.

“Calm down,” she hisses, but I’m beyond that now. She’ll want the ark of Heart next and retrieving that from Rion will be impossible without Nadir.

“Give me my mate! Where is he? Nadir!” I scream his name so loud that my voice cracks. “Nadir! Can you hear me? I know he’s alive. I know that if he weren’t, I’d be sick. Give him to me!” I stomp towards her, my bare feet slapping the marble with purpose. Zerra backs up. “You promised, you witch!”