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Back The Infinity Courts Save as PDF
Chapters (52)
  1. Dedication
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. 31
  33. 32
  34. 33
  35. 34
  36. 35
  37. 36
  38. 37
  39. 38
  40. 39
  41. 40
  42. 41
  43. 42
  44. 43
  45. 44
  46. 45
  47. 46
  48. 47
  49. 48
  50. 49
  51. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  52. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

He releases his hold, face flushed and eyes stern. He’s still trying to maintain some semblance of quiet beneath the veil.

“I have to find her,” I choke, shaking my head over and over again. I can’t leave her here alone. She needs to know someone is trying to help her—that I’m trying to help her.

I have to protect her, the way I’d want someone to protect Mei.

I have to listen.

The static takes hold of my brain, and at first it feels like a steady vibration that tingles within my head. But then the buzzing gets louder, and the sound turns to hissing.

Listen, the whispers shriek.

And so I do.

“Ff… in… ss,” they call.

I stare wide-eyed at Gil. “Do you hear that?”

He frowns. “What are you talking about?”

“The whispers,” I say, too awestruck to be alarmed. “They’re trying to tell me something.”

“Ff… in… sssss,” they hiss again.

Gil’s concern turns urgent. “Nami, I don’t hear anything.”

“They’re saying something like—” I roll the word in my head. “They’re saying ‘fins.’ ”

I concentrate on the voices, and the static grows louder, sparking at my brain like crackling fire. I wince, and Gil takes my hand.

“I don’t know what’s happening in your head, but you need to push the whispers out. I think it’s a trap. I think it’s them.” His eyes are larger than I’ve ever seen.

I look up, terrified. Did I call on them, the way I called on Ophelia? No. My mind races. I couldn’t have—not on purpose.

But if the Residents are listening… If they know we’re here…

What have I done?

The servant from the kitchen appears, mouth curved in a faraway smile. “May I be of any assistance?”

I look at Gil. He let the veil drop because he was trying to save me.

And now we’re completely vulnerable.

We take off through the servants’ door and race for the forest, leaving the palace and the whispers behind.

38

LEGION GUARDS SWARM THE SKIES on high alert, eyes trailing over Victory, metal wings drawn wide.

Maybe it’s a coincidence, because the Night of the Falling Star isn’t far away. Maybe they’re patrolling in preparation for Queen Ophelia’s arrival.

Or maybe they’re patrolling for me.

When we spot a group of guards scouting the forest, Gil and I leave our familiar track and find shelter in a cavern at the base of a small waterfall.

“We should be safe here until they pass,” he says, eyeing the tree line studiously. “I put a veil over the cavern. It’s easier than trying to veil two moving bodies.”

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly, my back pressed against the uneven stone wall. “I don’t know what happened.”