“You … followed us?” Jember’s voice was tight, and when I looked at him he was gripping his staff enough to make his knuckles white, even in the lantern light.

Her embrace faltered, and then she stepped toward Jember. He held up his staff to keep space between them.

“Spying for your master?” he demanded.

She shook her head quickly.

“Jember,” I said, taking my friend’s hand, “Saba’s on our side.”

He scoffed. “That would require thinking of others. Is that a trait you developed after death?”

I shoved his staff out of the way. “Jember. Stop.”

“Don’t follow us again.” And he rushed past her and up the stairs.

I looked at Saba apologetically and she shook her head, her eyes sad despite her smile.

“Did you follow us?” I asked as we exited the tomb. When she nodded I raised my eyebrows. “Just now, or all day?”

She chewed on her lip and gave me a sheepish look. She drew a circle in the air with her finger, traveling it in one direction, then mimed walking with her index and middle finger in the opposite direction.

“You came back?” I laughed and hugged her again. “You saved us back there. We’re both grateful, even if Jember won’t admit it.” I held her at arm’s length and looked up at her. “But you should go take care of Magnus. I know how he hates to be alone.”

She kissed my forehead, and handed me the lantern. Taking one last look in Jember’s direction, she ran out into the desert toward the castle, swallowed by the darkness of night.

CHAPTER 21

I’d never run toward death so quickly as when I saw the bleak castle lying before me. I could honestly say I was happy to be back. Happy the amulet hadn’t taken as long as I thought it would. Happy Jember had helped me with zero to little trouble. Happy to be back near Magnus. Happy …

Simply happy.

“Magnus!” I called.

“Welcome home, Andromeda,” his melodic voice purred, and my heart pounded.

I threw the door open, my breath retreating from my body.

Magnus was half sunk into the floor before me, half mangled bones and flesh, his face distorted in shocked rigor mortis.

I screamed but no sound came out. Instantly I knew something was wrong, that I wasn’t supposed to be here. I screamed again and something hard hit me in the face.

I blinked, panicked breaths shaking my body. I was lying on my side, in my dim childhood room, staring at Jember beside me. He sat on his half of the bed, back against the wall, finishing up an amulet.

I was too fatigued to touch my temple, even though I could swear a bruise was pulsing there. It was better than the dream. Anything was better than that. “Thanks for waking me.”

His only response was a grunt.