There is no Mother here, Adolfo thought. Only the Master. Only…

Hunger.

He followed the curve of the stairs, stopping when he saw them. Wolfram barons. Sylvalan barons. Guard captains and bowmen. His…

Meat.…Inquisitors. His…

Feast.

…followers. He would show them the glory of the world he’d created for them. He would show them he was…

Hunger.…. was…

An Inquisitor looked up, saw him, and screamed, “It’s the Evil One!”

He laughed as he watched them flee, running deeper and deeper into the Pit.

Feast.

He followed them deeper into the Pit. And he hunted.

Frowning, Selena studied the sky above the stones. The Black Coats and their followers were gone, so the magic had worked, but where was the anchor of light?

One by one, the Sons and Daughters rode away from the stones to help the humans deal with the prisoners and find the wounded until only Rhyann stood with her. Then Ashk joined her…and Liam.

“I don’t see the anchor,” Selena said quietly. Steam rose from the ground inside the circle—ground that was now cracked and barren.

“There.” Ashk pointed to a glow barely visible among the stones.

“But”—Rhyann shook her head—“it’s going down. Why would it go down?”

A chill went through Selena. “Dreams and will. His dreams. His will. He made the world he wanted. Mother have mercy.”

“Vengeance and justice,” Ashk said. “You gave him both, Huntress, in a way no one else could have.”

Selena turned to look at Liam, who stared at her with unreadable eyes. “I am sorry the anchor had to be placed here.” She hesitated. “Your people should build a wall just beyond the circle. What was made here…I don’t know what would happen to anyone who stepped onto that barren ground or climbed among those stones.”

“When all the bodies are given back to the Mother, this will be a field of the dead. I don’t think anyone will go near those stones after what happened here today, but we’ll build the wall.”

Aiden and Lyrra rode up on Minstrel, followed by Breanna and Falco on another horse. Aiden helped Lyrra slide down from behind him before dismounting. Hand in hand, they came forward. “It’s done?”

Selena nodded. “The Witch’s Hammer and his followers are gone.”

Morphia rode up, followed by a few of the Fae. She gave them a brilliant smile, her face lit with happiness and relief as she dismounted to join them. “Ashk! Morag’s here. Did you see her? I only caught a glimpse of her as she rode back into the trees, but she’s here.”

Selena felt Ashk shudder. Then Rhyann said, “Selena,” in a quiet, tense voice.

She heard a muffled cry of fear, watched men scatter, leaving a clear path for the dark horse that walked toward her.

“Morag!” Morphia called. Then, puzzled and a little fearful, “Morag?”