“I know the truth, Elysse,” she said, and Sera felt a thrill run through her as Leela called the High Priestess by her given name. “I have met Wyllin Moonseer.”

At that name, the High Priestess’s eyes went wide. Several Cerulean close by gasped.

“But Wyllin is dead,” one called out.

“She died to form this tether!” another said.

“This tether was not formed the way all other tethers have been,” Leela said. “This City has forgotten its true purpose. The tether is weak. The sleeping sickness is a lie. Wyllin Moonseer lives, trapped on the planet. And this woman”—she pointed at the High Priestess—“is responsible for the Great Sadness.”

Freeda was looking at Leela skeptically and Koreen’s expression had changed too—Daina seemed ashamed she’d ever stood up and said anything at all, and Sera realized Leela sounded rather insane.

But it didn’t matter. They could show the truth of her words.

Sera stepped forward out of her mothers’ embrace.

“We can show you,” she said, nodding to Leela. Sera felt her magic begin to sparkle as it connected with itself and with the power of the moonstone she wore around her neck, the power of memory, of connectivity. Her skin began to glow and her eyes burned. The Cerulean closest to her drew away, confused and frightened, but when Sera saw the self blood bond glowing within Leela, she found nothing frightening about her friend’s shining skin or blazing irises. Leela looked free.

“I am not scared of you anymore,” Leela said to the High Priestess, and her voice echoed throughout the room. “You cannot stop us from sharing our knowledge with this City.”

Then Sera felt Leela’s heart beating alongside hers and all the memories poured out in waves. Sera was dimly aware of each and every Cerulean in this temple, their magic like candle flames she could see and feel, bright spots of heat that grew brighter as the memories swarmed them.

At first it was just Wyllin’s memories of the Great Sadness and all that had happened after. But then Sera’s own memories filtered in, falling to the planet, being captured and imprisoned . . . it pained her to remember the hard slats of the crate and the needle sinking into her skin when Kiernan drew her blood. But then the memories shifted and became softer, tinged with friendship and love, for Agnes and Leo, for Errol and Boris. The planet was wonderfully strange and frightening and new and unexpected, and Sera’s attachment to it was palpable, even through all the hardships it had caused her.