I nod and then fill him in on the rest of the details. I watch his hand open and close like he’s reaching for his magic.

“I can still feel it,” he says after I stop speaking, and my chest heaves with relief before he adds, “But it’s not the same as it was.”

“But it’s still Imperial magic,” Nadir says. “You’re still the ascended king.”

Tyr dips his chin. “All I can do is try.” Then, his gaze moves to Erevan. “Or ask for help from the Primary and the soon-to-be king of Aphelion.”

Erevan looks like he’s just been kicked. Gabriel sits up in his seat, alarm spreading over his expression. Erevan can only ascend if Tyr descends into the Evanescence, and then he will be gone forever.

“No,” Erevan says, a firm set to his jaw. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“Then we need your magic,” Nadir says.

Erevan shakes his head. “I swore an oath never to use it until the low fae have been granted use of theirs again.”

“But—” I open my mouth and then snap it shut at the dark look Erevan tosses me. It’s clear from his expression that he has no intentions of wavering.

Tyr tips his head slowly and gives Erevan a look up and down that suggests his cousin doesn’t really have a choice in the matter.

“Then I will try. After the warders return and are released,” he says, and then more firmly, “We will destroy it.”

Erevan gives no sign of acknowledging that statement.

“Any sign of Atlas?” I ask, and Gabriel gestures to a piece of paper on the table.

“They’re getting closer. I’m hoping they’ll return any day now.”

Nadir nods. “We appreciate all of your help.”

We’re due to arrive in Heart in two days. But I’m not quite done with everything I need to do here. There’s one more person we need to see.

I turn to Tyr and ask, “Before we leave, do you mind if I borrow the ark for one last errand?”

CHAPTER 40

Nadir and I make our way through the city, heading for the Sixteenth District, one area that mostly avoided disaster in the quake.

Cloris Payne claimed she knows how to manage the bond between Primaries, and while I have no expectations that she’ll be willing to help us, I’m arriving with a bargaining chip.

We stop in front of the Priestess of Payne as thunder rolls overhead, pausing outside the building to remember the last time we were here.