She’s right to want me gone from this world. Because for as long as I still live in Infinity, I will never stop trying to finish what I wasn’t able to do tonight.

To free humankind and to end Ophelia’s rule.

And I swear on the stars, if I manage to survive this, I will take her down with my own hands.

She takes a seat on the throne, gazing past me like I mean nothing to her at all.

Lysander steps forward, his thick fist closing around my arm. I try to struggle, but I can’t move, bound by whatever restrictions they’re using on my consciousness.

As he starts to drag me away, I stare hard into Caelan’s eyes.

“Infinity was never built for you; it was built for dreamers. I might never be free,” I say, voice lowered so only he can hear me, “but neither will you.”

Silver eyes spark, and I turn away from Caelan, letting the fire of vengeance flicker in my heart.

We reach the throne room doors, and I feel the hold over my body suddenly give way, followed by a series of heavy thuds. When I look at Prince Lysander, he’s lying on the floor, unmoving.

I turn wide-eyed to the sight of Queen Ophelia slumped in the throne, Damon and Ettore crumpled on the ground, and Prince Caelan standing tall in the midst of it all.

In his hand is the Reaper.

49

“YOU DON’T HAVE TIME,” CAELAN says, walking toward me with quick strides. He places the cuff over my wrist and stares. “You need to use this on me and get to the Labyrinth as fast as you can.”

My eyes dart between his, wondering if this is another one of his tricks. “Why are you doing this?”

His jaw tenses, but he doesn’t give me a reason. “Do you remember what I told you about the stars? How Residents can’t see them and how they’re always changing?”

I nod quickly.

“Listen to them,” he says in a hushed voice. “They’ll show you the way.”

He takes a step away from me, waiting.

I look from the Reaper to him. “The Colony…”

“You can’t save them.” The hardness in his words knocks me like a brick wall.

My head spins. The room spins. I don’t understand what’s happening. Somehow, despite everything, my mind defaults to concern. “What will happen to you?” I hate myself for even asking.

His mouth tightens. “I won’t remember this. None of us will.”

“If you destroy the Four Courts—”

“I told you I will not exist in a cage. And you can’t stop what’s happening,” he says, almost desperately. “But you can run.”

I think of my friends in the Winter Keep, waiting to be shuttled off to Death. I can’t leave them. I can’t abandon them, just to save myself.