Then she turned the book around to show everyone the original writing in an elegant black script. It was long. Too long. Panic was bubbling inside of me just looking at it, I couldn’t even read the words from here. I didn’t want to, but I knew there was no avoiding it forever. Somehow the war just got real. There was no more waiting for the day the war started. This meant today was that day. This meant life was about to get uglier day by day.

“Just read it, dammit.” I wrapped my arms around my waist and rocked forward. “Rip the Band-Aid, Tegan.”

Tegan cleared her throat and wiggled her fingers to make the words appear written in the air for all of us to see as she read them out loud. “The Devil marks the start, She must fall to set the chart. Seek within thy Empress heart, for in his blood he is the part. With this Mark and the heirs unfrozen, the Court will claim their promotion. Now sides of fate must be chosen, for the bonds of peace are unwoven. Seek the one who paid the price, change the name, she won’t play nice. Release the son, betray the vice, deep in the Lore they’ll feel his bite. When the Angel of Tides rings his drum, beware the time has finally come. One for glory, one must succumb, in Heaven’s shine or Evil’s thumb. Raise arms together, make your stand, gather thy army to guard your land. Last, summon thy magic to Power’s hand, unleash Aether’s Spirit upon command. Earth’s final war to settle the brawl, a long fated fight you cannot stall. But we do not yield, we will not fall, for Coven or Lilith to rule us all.”

Release the son.

Everest.

My pulse quickened. I gripped my body and rocked. This prophecy was telling us to set Everest free. I wanted it desperately while I was also terrified of what that moment was going to look like . . . if he was going to survive it. My chest grew so tight I struggled to breathe. My hands trembled. In the back of my mind, I registered the sounds of my Coven-mates all panicking over the words we’d just heard. I heard their voices, but it was just sound. No distinct words. It was like a roar in my ears. My vision tunneled, the corners turning black.

“STOP,” Tegan shouted and everyone went silent. “Look, you heard the words. This is not for right now. It’s here, we’re at war, but Valathame is giving us warning so we have time to prepare. Ask kings and angels if need more, so that means I need Henry. Jackson, please call your father and get him here. Bentley, the angels?”