There was a full-blown battle happening on Avolire’s front lawn, and I was bound in vines.

“Let me go,” I whispered to whomever was carrying me and prayed they somehow spoke Spanish. “Ask Elizabeth. Please, put me down.”

Everest shouted, bringing my attention back to him. My heart sank. He’d gotten free of the Strength Card and was now in a three-on-one fight of magic against magic. I thrashed and a little growl slipped out of my mouth. Everest’s magic swept over my body. The vines turned to ash. I landed on all fours. The second I felt the snow against my skin, I lunged forward like a jungle cat. I had to get out of here. I had the missing page. I felt the chain digging into my skin beneath my dress. The decoy had been put in place. I’d succeeded on this quest. I just now had to get home. But Everest couldn’t reveal his identity yet, nor his loyalty, so I had to get beyond that arch. I didn’t know what we’d do to end all of this⁠—

Sharp pain pierced through my arm. I slid to a stop, my knees digging tracks into the snow. I yanked my sleeve up and read Valathame’s new message. Time to play the twisted game, call to them and betray thy vampire name.

Betray thy vampire name? What does that mean? I looked around and my gaze landed on that poor human I’d bitten. I felt terrible for it . . . and for Thomas. My actions had brought all of this here to Avolire—that’s it. That’s IT.

I pushed to my feet and screamed, “IT WAS ME!” I patted my own chest, then pointed to my throat. “I DID IT! LET HIM GO!”

The three men battling Everest glanced back and forth at me. The other Coven members frowned at me as they fought the vampires.

“DON’T HURT HIM! NO! EVEREST!” I charged for him, digging my heels into the snow and pushing as hard as I could. “NOT HIM! NOT SWEYN! I BIT HER!”

“WHAT IS SHE SAYING?” that young Esther-look-alike named Selah yelled while she flicked her blue magic left and right.

“SHE BIT THE HUMAN” the Hermit Card shouted back. “GRAB HER!”

Elizabeth zapped a sentinel with orange magic, then leapt in front of me, daggers in each hand. But Everest was behind her, and I had to get to him. I didn’t know why or what I was going to do, but I had to get to him. Elizabeth jumped toward me, so she was within arms’ reach, and then she threw herself backwards, making it look like I’d thrown her. I lunged over her as she rolled across the snow and I kept charging for Everest. He was now in a sword fight with Cyrus.