“Why are you dressed like that?” Mael asks.

“Well—”

We’re interrupted by the appearance of several others. D’Arcy, Bronte, and Cyan all materialize out of thin air, along with Anemone and Linden. With Bronte and her bonded partner, Yael, is a young girl with silver hair, and next to D’Arcy stands a teenage male High Fae with her same dark eyes and long white hair.

A moment later, Tyr, Gabriel, and Erevan also appear.

We all stare at each other across the space. It takes everyone another moment to notice the Empyrium. They’ve all heard the story of my previous encounter, and they all understand immediately.

“Welcome,” the Empyrium says. “Zerra is dead, and the Third Age is upon us.”

They sweep out a hand towards me. “Your new goddess awaits.”

Every eye swings to me, and I shake my head.

“No. I don’t want this. Please.”

“Someone must control the magic of the Artefacts,” they say.

“But why me?” I ask.

“You are the right choice. You defeated the greatest evil in Ouranos.”

“No, I’m not. I have people I need to take care of, people who need me to restore the magic of Heart, and I don’t want this.”

I take Nadir’s hand. “I have a mate and a family I want to grow old with. Please don’t do this.”

They give me a hard look. They weren’t expecting me to refuse.

“You forced Zerra into this all those years ago, and look how that turned out,” I say.

“You are not Zerra,” they reply. “We chose better this time.”

“No! I don’t want this!” My voice pings around the room. “You won’t make me abandon my mate. You can’t make me!”

“But we can,” they say. “You are the best choice. Only a Primary or an ascended king or queen will be strong enough to control the magic. And you are without a home to rule.”

At that declaration, I feel everyone in the room go still.

“Lor?” Nadir asks. “Did you know that?”

I squeeze his hand. “I did, but I couldn’t tell any of you. I couldn’t ask any of you to shoulder this burden for me.”

Nadir’s jaw turns hard as he turns back to the Empyrium. “Take me,” he says.

My head snaps up. “No! Absolutely not. This is why I didn’t share this with you.”

The Empyrium fold their hands together and dip their chin. “As we understand it, you are no longer a Primary, Aurora Prince.”

Nadir huffs out an angry breath. I’m not sure if it’s directed at me or at them.

My gaze shoots to my brother, who looks like he’s about to speak.

“Don’t even think about it,” I snarl before he snaps his mouth shut.