We arrange ourselves, Ximena on my left and Marcus on my right, the air in the room practically vibrating with energy. Or maybe that’s just my skin, the three undead witches tripping my radar with an intensity I’ve never felt before. They’re surprisingly petite, and they’ve barely moved, but I still understand exactly what Hope meant—they’re terrifying. It’s in their poise, the ageless intelligence that sparks in their eyes, and the unmistakable aura of power that surrounds them. They’re all dressed like Elizabeth II, modern but regal, and the effect is strangely imposing—a deadly tea party.

“You need not be afraid,” Brixia remarks offhandedly. “Anything we might do to you could hardly be worse than what you face already.”

“That’s not exactly comforting,” I point out, my tongue as cold and dead as an oyster on the half-shell.

“Nor should it be.” Ket inclines her head. “The only fate worse than what you face is that which will befall everyone you leave behind.”

“Thanks for the reminder.” I narrow my eyes at her in spite of myself. Here I am, literally dying, and she wants to make me feel like a drama queen for it. Adults.

“Many lifetimes ago, we confronted Azazel,” Sulis interjects, her tone commanding. “With his dreadsome power, he wrought havoc in this realm. His blood turned men to monsters, and his monsters made meals out of men.”

“We were double our number then.” Brixia stares nostalgically into the distance. “Our circle was complete, our sorcery unmatched. He had to be stopped, and we were the ones to stop him. Through wits, we trapped Azazel, and began the work of casting him out.”

“But we were mortal then—the one truly fatal flaw.” Ket sighs. “Even though we succeeded in wrenching him from his physical body, one of our sisters died before the spell could be completed and his banishment secured.”

“He escaped into the ether, and those of us who remained took a vow to face him again upon his return.” Sulis glowers. “Over the centuries, we lost two more sisters to those who would see the Corrupter triumph … but the stars align themselves again, and the battlefield is prepared.”

“We will finish what we began.” Determination gleams in Brixia’s eyes. “It is time to close the circle.”

Worlds die and galaxies are born in the breathless silence that follows. I want to believe they intend to stop the thing inside of me, but my hopes are fragile from too many trips down the stairs—too many burns from trusting the untrustworthy. Haltingly, I turn to Ximena … who gives me a reassuring nod.

“They revealed the ritual,” she states in a hush. “I’ve seen it myself, mijito. It turns out this is what we’ve been training for all along.”

“But I thought…” My eyes flood. I still don’t want to believe.