“You can’t protect the Diwata on your own!”

“Yes, I can. By barricading this island. By making it impassable so it will be difficult for others to attempt. By using whatever means I have to make sure there will be fewer deaths if they risk it anyway.”

“I don’t understand,” Leo Gries says. “Your father wants there to be more deaths. Didn’t you say that those eight sacrifices will fully awaken him? Why would you want to delay that?”

“I know it’s inevitable. There will always be people like Hemslock, who are greedy and power hungry and will never listen. But I can prevent the deaths of those who don’t have to die. ’Tay’s been sleeping for a very long time. He can sleep a little longer.”

Gries nods slowly. “You could have finished the ritual by letting it kill me. Instead you saved my life. Seventh to consume. Hemslock let his rage consume him, but I let my grief over Elena consume me too—it’s the same thing, isn’t it? It could have been either of us. It could still be both of us.”

I don’t say a word as he stands there, processing. “I think your wife will agree with me,” I finally say, gently, “that your son needs you now more than ever.”

“No,” Chase shoots back. “We can’t leave you here! Even if you’re right about people coming to find the treasure or the god for themselves, you’ll still be in danger. I can’t—I don’t want to leave you!”

I lean toward Chase and kiss him. He clings to me greedily for a minute, as if he never wants to let me go.

Another unexpected earthquake sends both father and son stumbling. I remain upright and grab Chase before he can fall.

Some of the trees still burn, though most were on their way to being extinguished. One has toppled over without warning and triggered the explosives—likely set as a failsafe on Hemslock’s part.

I look back at the large eye above us, the writhing branches. And I know: ’Tay will never let me leave. Will never let me spend the rest of my life outside of Kisapmata, with Chase.

But I also know what I have to do.

“Please,” Chase begs. “Please, come with us.”

“Thank you,” I tell him, smiling. “I was alone for the longest time. I thought I didn’t mind. But you are the first outside of my family to care for me. You made me understand that I can be much more than I was. And I will always be grateful to you for it. Now go.”

I push him back to his father, just as another tremor rocks the cave.

The ground between us splits, and another sinkhole appears, rapidly widening. Gries yanks Chase out of harm’s way, the growing distance between us ensuring that my decision is final.

“Thank you,” Gries calls out to me. “Thank you so much. We won’t—we’ll try—”

“I’ll find you again,” Chase shouts back at me as his father pulls him into the tunnels, the soldiers quick on their heels. “I don’t care how long it takes! If you intend to park your hot, immortal ass inside this cave and wait for your dad to wake up, then I’ll come back and drag you and your dog out myself!”