“Don’t,” I snarled, remembering how Lessa had lobbed the very same insult at me when I still believed she was Anaïs. “You bloody well know how much he means to me. His loss hurts more than just you.”

“He’s not lost,” she shrieked, and Cécile winced, clutching at the magic wrapped around her ankle. But she caught my eye and shook her head. I’m fine. Which was all well and good until Victoria lost her temper and accidentally snapped her leg in two.

“How can you say that?” I couldn’t keep the edge from my voice. “I’ve looked in his eyes, Victoria. He’s not there!”

“You don’t know that.”

“But what if I’m right?” I demanded. “What if Cécile strips away the iron and his mortal form and there’s nothing left? Think of what that will that do to you.” I couldn’t lose her, too.

“Think of what this is doing to me!”

“At least you’re alive,” I said, putting voice to my thoughts. “Be grateful for that.”

It was the wrong thing to say. The grass smoldered and burst into flame, and the magic holding Cécile whipped her body through the air like a rag doll.

“You’re hurting her,” I shouted, slicing through the rope holding Cécile even as my magic rose to counter Victoria’s attack. Our powers collided with a thunderclap, snow falling from trees for miles as the ground shuddered. But I’d used too much power – far more than I’d intended – and Victoria was launched through the air, landing heavily on her back on the far side of the clearing.

Cécile landed on the ground, the grass not doing as much as I’d hoped to cushion her fall, but already she was rolling to her feet, shouting at me to leave Victoria alone.

Victoria was struggling against my power, her voice a maelstrom of blistering oaths. “Enough,” I shouted at her, furious that she was making me do this. “If you have any loyalty left in you, you will stand down.”

But my words were drowned out by a roar, and something slammed into me, knocking me from my feet. Fists pummeled my face as we rolled into the trees, but I didn’t fight back, because it was Vincent. Vincent, who had come to the aid of his sister.

Victoria had scrambled to her feet and in a swift motion caught hold of her brother’s arms. The roaring ceased, his broad shoulders heaving with each breath he took. And although his eyes were still blank, for the first time, I had hope.

“This is something,” I said to Victoria. “You were right – he’s still with us.”

“Forgive me,” she whispered. “I was disloyal.”