The scene dissolved and the marble room returned, and Agnes had the impulse to reach out as if she could somehow grasp the memory in her hand and keep it with her. Her face was wet, and when she looked at her brother, she saw tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Bring her back,” Xavier said as the whole room seemed to come to life.

“What just happened?” Matthias said, dazed, running a hand over his face and then down his arms. Agnes knew he had not seen Xavier’s memory—only she and Leo had that power with Sera’s magic inside them. But everyone had felt the strange breeze and the unpleasant sensation of being held in place, unable to even lift a finger. Ambrosine sucked in a huge breath, her whole body trembling.

“Bring her back,” Xavier cried, scrambling to his feet. Leo was up in an instant and moving to protect Sera.

Sera, however, did not seem afraid. “I see you, Xavier McLellan,” she said. “And I pity you. Matthias is right. She has been here all along. You do not need Braxos to see her. She lives in Leo and in Agnes. And she lives inside you.”

“Please,” Xavier said, breathing heavily, still refusing to look at his son. “I can’t . . . bring her back!”

“No,” Sera said simply.

Suddenly, from outside, there came the long blast of a horn. Then another.

“The Renalt,” Hektor gasped.

Ambrosine was on her feet in an instant. “Get the Misarros,” she snapped at Hektor. “Ready the ships.” She turned to Sera. “Once I have dealt with this queen,” she said, hunger in her eyes, “you and I are going to have a chat.”

She strode out of the room, Hektor at her heels. “Lock them back up,” she said on her way out, waving in the direction of Xavier and Kiernan.

Agnes found her voice at last. “Father,” she cried, and finally he looked at her. He seemed empty, lifeless. Agnes didn’t know what to say. That she forgave him? She didn’t. That she understood him now? She didn’t think that was true either.

“We could have been a family,” she said. “A real family. You could have told us about her. You didn’t need to be so angry, so cruel.”

Xavier’s face clouded over. “You do not know what it is like to lose what I lost,” he said.

“But I do,” Matthias said, stepping forward. “And if you cannot see that you must change your ways, Xavier . . .” He gestured to Leo and Agnes. “You will lose what little you have left of her.”

Then the Misarros were pulling them from the room, and the last Agnes saw of her father was a look of shame and grief etched across his face.

“We’ve got to leave,” Matthias said. “Now.”