Incredibly, Vogel’s hold on my will drops away in that second, my control over my body abruptly restored even as Vogel battles III’s power back. The reason for it swoops down in a terrible rush.

It’s a trap.

Vogel wants me to move toward Yvan.

He wants me to get a fraction away from the Great Tree.

Because the second I do, he’ll regain enough power over me to clamp fully down on my will and magic, then grab a Dryad weapon and decimate them all.

I meet Yvan’s gaze for a heartbeat, the familiar heat flashing through the air between us, the split second stretching out as I remember it all—that time in the university kitchens when I first saw him smile at little Fern. How I started to love him in that moment, both of us fighting the tide of that love for months to no avail. How he challenged me over the next year, fiercely prodding me to change my mind about practically everything. How we worked together to free Naga and struggled to free Ariel. And then...that night in the North Tower—how he said no to our coupling, even though we were so hungry for each other, even though his body betrayed his powerful want. He put me first. He’s always putting me first.

And that first Wyvern kiss—the feel of his fire bond spiraling through me as we embraced. He jumped in with his whole heart. He’s always jumping in with his whole heart and fire.

I realize in that second, in a powerful sweep, that in both his love and Lukas’s, I’ve found one inextinguishable thing that’s true—

The force of good might be no match for the terrible might of Vogel’s Shadow. All we have is a weak green Wand that flees and Watchers who just watch. But this love in our hearts—it’s stronger than all the Shadow in the world.

And I want love to prevail.

The whole world arcs down as the split second passes, the entire story of me distilled to this one, last, free-will chance as tears sheen my Shadow-grayed eyes and a deeper understanding of Lukas’s loving, courageous sacrifice enfolds me.

“I love you,” I tell Yvan as my heart shatters around the giving up of him.

Around the giving up of everything.

And then, as Yvan lunges toward me, fervently calling my name, I turn toward the Great Tree and hurl myself at it.

CHAPTER THREE

THE INFINITE DARK

Elloren

Northern Forest