Druj’s spell had prematurely willed the akvan to life, and it was angry. The stone vanished abruptly, and the newly formed daeva clawed its way out from the retreating waves. It was a terror, and the heaviest of all the daeva; an elephant-like abomination with a mouth made entirely of tusks and teeth. It lumbered toward us, but the azi was quick to wing its way between us, its three heads primed for violence. It hit the ground between its daeva kin and me, tail lifted and swinging. The akvan ducked, agile despite its bulk and, oddly enough, shied away.

“We have no need to fight, Tea,” Druj said. “We share the same goals.”

“I cannot condone what you’ve done!” The idea that she would deliberately put innocent people to the blight—the idea that Altaecia could have put Likh to the blight!—made reconciliation impossible. “Get out of here!” I rasped at Likh, who was already dragging the unconscious Khalad away.

Altaecia was as skilled as Kalen; she had decades of experience on her side. While Kalen deflected her attacks, she gave him little time to muster up his own offenses. The older asha never let up, peppering him with fire, lightning, ice. “Don’t make us do this, Althy,” he said, as close to begging as I had ever seen him.

“Our lives are inconsequential in the grand scheme of the Creator’s plans, Kalen. The Dark ashas’ short life spans have always been their punishment. We will save Mykaela. We will complete the shadowglass with your help or without.”

“But all the people you murdered!”

“What of it? I cried many nights over Polaire, Kalen, but her death will not change my mind. If you will not yield, then you will meet her very soon.”

The azi showed none of the hesitation the akvan displayed. With its three heads lunging and snapping, it advanced. But the other daeva avoided its blows. The akvan willingly relinquished ground.

My mind continued to struggle toward Druj, only for her to counter and dodge in much the same way. The akvan concentrated mainly on defense, Mykaela told me once. But at the hands of someone as powerful as the oracle, it was difficult to best the beast, even with the azi, the strongest of all the daeva.

“We could be very powerful together,” Druj said. “I can show you how to become the most powerful woman in the Willows—in all the kingdoms.”

“Do the elder asha know your secret?” I demanded.