Ward is free, and I have no Speaking power, no way to lock him up again without resorting to a physical altercation—one that I’m unlikely to win.

“I need him, Alyssa,” Cami says. “You don’t understand.”

She’s wrong—I do understand. Because, as I look at him waiting patiently beside her and making no move to escape, I repeat her words in my mind and one thing stands out to me.

“You’ve never called me by my full name before,” I rasp, my entire body tight with dread. Since learning of my real identity, she’s never called me “Alyssa,” only “Lyss”—just as I’ve never called her “Camelot.”

Like the flick of a switch, her pleading face transforms into a self-satisfied look as she says, “You always were too quick for you own good, dearest Alyssa.”

No.

No, no, no.

It can’t be—she can’t be under Vanik’s control. I would have known. I would have known.

She whispers a quiet word that has light flaring around her, proving my thoughts true—that she’s not under Vanik’s control at all. I know this because her skin starts to melt like candle wax, morphing and changing until there’s someone completely new standing in her place, looking at me with smug satisfaction.

It’s all I can do to keep from swaying as I gasp out his name.

“Vanik.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“Surprise,” Vanik says, his sunken eyes lit with glee.

More light flares, and when I lunge forward, I find that I can’t move. I’m physically stuck to the ground, just like at Luna Park. Only this time I can’t Speak myself free.

“I’d love to stay and chat,” Vanik says, “but we have places to be. Come along, Landon.”

“No!” I cry as they walk toward me and then stroll straight on by. “Stop! Stop!”

A low, dark chuckle comes from Vanik as he passes me, his slick hair shining in the torchlight. “Nice try, but we both know that won’t work anymore.”

I don’t care what he says. I don’t care that he’s right. I don’t care that he somehow has full control of his new Creator ability while I can’t so much as infuse a single word with intent.

All the odds are stacked against me. I’m literally unable to make a move. But … he’s so close. And if he gets away … If Ward leaves with him …

I can’t give up.

I won’t give up.

“Let me go!” I scream, just as the two of them enter the tunnel and stride casually down it, my words echoing loudly around us.

But echoing isn’t all they do.

Because light flashes, and suddenly, my feet are free.

I … I can still Speak.

That means … I might still be able to stop Vanik.