“I know,” I say. “I couldn’t tell you I was leaving. I wasn’t going to make you lie to our superiors.”

Her eyes well with uncharacteristic tears. “No, dummy. I meant cutting your hair like this. I barely recognized you.”

I stifle a laugh, tears matching hers. “I’ll check with you next time I decide to disobey the king and leave the Heliana. And give myself a haircut.”

“Yes, please do.” Vera leans in close. “Please tell me you found it and didn’t leave me for no reason.”

My heart thuds. “Yes.”

Vera lights up, then comes crashing down. “But the city still—”

“Still fell, I know. We were too late. Don’t tell a soul,” I beg, inclining my head to the northwestern part of the city. “We have to fight. As if there is still hope.”

Vera takes the news with a deep breath. “There is,” she said. “You brought it. You came back.”

I touch her right shoulder with my hand. “Why are you here at the front? Shirene said warriors-elect were guarding the citizens.”

“We were. Just a while ago, sentinels came down and told everyone to fly for Vyrinterra.” She pauses. “Now I know why. It was pure chaos, Ro. But at least people will be safe.”

“Only if we can stop the humans here,” I reply.

Callen comes back over. “Oh, skies,” Vera says, and she gives him a hug, too. “Thank you for not letting her die out there.”

“Never. Now c’mon.” He hustles toward the door and inclines for us to follow. “The humans landed one of their ships near the Northern Gate. Their supplies are on it.”

“So?”

“Guns run out of bullets,” he says. “If we can dislodge the ship from the Heliana, they’ll be trapped here.”

I nod. “Let’s go. V?”

She grins. “I’m with you two heroes.”

I know she means it—heroes to the other children—but as we make a run for the Northern Gate, her words sting. We still didn’t save the prince, but I’d rather die trying to stave off the humans’ assault than give in to Marchess and his greed.

Callen takes his lion form, and Vera and I follow suit—just at the right moment. As we rush around a corner, a human in a black uniform charges from the other side. I tuck my back legs up, guarding the vulnerable part of my underbelly. As I arc upward, Vera lunges forward from behind me, her claws extended. We leave the human’s strangled cry in our wake. Callen glides from rooftop to rooftop, keeping low as we get closer.

Carefully, I lower my wings and step around Callen for a better look. The ship comes into sight. The humans beached the craft just beside the Northern Gate. Holes in the underbelly tell me that the sea-folk tried to sink it but didn’t make it in time.