“And I am yours for as long as you’ll have me.”

“You’re stuck with me until the end, Lor . . .”

I blow out a shaky breath and notice everyone else watching us with soft smiles. Tristan and I exchange a look. Something changed in Heart when Nadir talked him down from his fears.

I remember my brother’s shouted words in the Heart Castle.

All I ever wanted was for you both to be happy.

Tristan tips his head as though he can read my thoughts.

I am happy, big brother. Despite every challenge we have yet to face, I am happy.

“Shall we begin?” Anemone says softly. On a table behind her sit the Heart Crown and the Aurora Torch. She picks up the Torch and hands it to Nadir.

“First you must ask it to release you,” she says.

“Will it speak with me? I’m not ascended.”

Anemone nods. “As you’ve seen from your mate’s experience, the Artefacts will speak to others when it’s necessary. It’s just simpler to let everyone believe they communicate only with their rulers, lest anyone gets it into their head to ask for favors.”

“And then what?”

“While that is happening, I will begin reciting the necessary lines.”

“What if it refuses?”

She tips her head. “It may. But I believe that if you explain the situation, it will see reason.”

Nadir nods and accepts the Torch, clasping it in his hands. He turns to face me, and I watch as the flames reflect in his eyes.

Anemone then picks up the Crown and holds it out to me. “You will need this.”

I place it on my head, feeling its weight settle.

“And this won’t make me ascend?” I ask.

“No,” Anemone asks. “You must be in Heart to ascend. You are as safe as you can be here.”

Anemone opens the Book of Night, flipping through until she lands on the page she’s looking for.

“Are you ready?” she asks.

“This could still go wrong,” I say, looking around the cavern. “I’d still feel better if everyone moved away.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Willow says, folding her arms and spreading her stance.

“Nor I,” Tristan adds, mimicking Willow’s position.

“We aren’t leaving either,” Cyan says, indicating him and Linden. She tosses him a scowl but remains quiet.

“Same here,” Mael says. “You think I’d ever let our boy go through this without us?”

I look at Bronte and Cedar. “What about you?”

“I think I’ll stick around,” Cedar says, and Bronte nods her assent, all of their expressions resolute.

I blow out a breath and hope to the gods that this works.

Nadir and I hold hands as Anemone starts reading the incantation, repeating the words over and over. The Crown grows warm on my head while the Torch in Nadir’s hand begins to flame and spark.