"We were expecting an ambush, my dear son," says Lucian, chewing on a piece of bread from a platter. "That is why I had spies scouring the landscape. They detected a force traveling from Zeb's lands, so I dispatched the Darkness to dispose of them."

My eyes grow wide. My heart beats faster. "And Zeb?"

The golden guard turns our way at the mention of the prince.

Lucian waves his hand dismissively. "He lives. I told you, I don't wish any of my children to come to harm."

A Fae walks up to me, offering me a platter of grapes and bread. I wave them away, sick at the very thought of food. "Where is he? Where is Zeb?"

Lucian sighs, as if my questions tire him so. "At High Castle, of course. Under guard."

Niam scowls, plopping a grape into his mouth. "He should be executed, if you ask me. Siding with the traitors."

"Now, now," says Lucian. "You've all made mistakes. A father must forgive. He must give chances."

"We're not children anymore," hisses Niam. "He should pay for his actions. So should Dean and Ace."

"There are ways to make things right," says Lucian. "Ways to redeem oneself."

"So," I ask, "is that why your creature is not here? Because it just slaughtered hundreds of vampires?" I try to keep the rage from my tone. I fail.

Lucian nods. "Indeed. It is on its way. But I don't believe we will need it. Even if the tide shifts." He gestures outside the tent, to a huge catapult not far. It isn't with the rest of the army. I'd thought it odd, now I am even more curious.

"One catapult? That will win the battle?"

"It is not the catapult that is important, but the ammunition. See those barrels?"

I do. Hundreds of barrels at the catapult's base.

"Explosives," says Niam, grinning like a fool.

I… "What? Explosives?"

"Yes," says Lucian, casually wiping away bread crumbs with a handkerchief. "If need be, we will fire them at the enemy."

I stand, clenching my fists. "But that will kill everyone. The Fae. The vampires. The Druids are there. Varis."

"I'm sure he we will find a way to survive," says Lucian. "Besides, if he does perish, some other Fae will just gain his powers, and I will control them all the same."

This… this is madness. I need to do something, but I can't, not with Niam here.

Lucian yawns, then motions to the guard. "I grow tired of this fight. Find the girl. Once you capture her, the rest will surrender."

The golden soldier nods, then marches for battle. The earth seems to quake with each of his steps, so heavy is the armor. I've never seen the like.

"Another gift from the Darkness?" I ask, pointing at the soldier.

"In a way," Lucian says, his eyes cold. "In a way."

PART III

—Arianna Spero—

Something comes.

The ground shakes in its wake.

A soldier, larger than any normal man.

Clad in golden armor.

He comes for me.

Yami, now free of the bolt, hisses at the new foe.

The soldier doesn't react. He doesn't fear a dragon. Or perhaps he can't fear. Perhaps he is Fae, doing whatever Lucian wants.

Yami weaves around me protectively, baring his teeth. I raise my swords.

And then we fight.

The soldier is slow, clumsy in movement, using a giant sword as his weapon. I dance around him, slicing past his defenses. But my strikes do nothing against the armor.

Fine. We'll try something else.

I jump back and Yami roars, blasting the soldier with blue flame. He doesn't even try to dodge. The fire hits him, and I raise my hand, shielding my eyes from the overwhelming light. In battles that move so quickly, it seems forever that Yami smothers the enemy with flame. Finally, when he seems too tired to keep breathing fire, he stops, his head dropping, his breath heavy and loud.

I look up. Through the black smoke. Through the burning grass.

Impossible.

The soldier still stands. His armor is scorched, black from the fire, but not melted, not torn apart.

Yami screeches and jumps forward, clawing at the armor. But it won’t work.

I try to warn him.

But I'm not fast enough.

Yami's attack does nothing.

The soldier swings his blade down. Down on Yami's neck. And my dragon falls, dematerializing into dust.

No.

How can we win now? How can we win without Yami?

The foe walks forward, his head turning to face me. He has only two slits for eyes, and yet I feel anger in them. A deep rage.

And then I get an idea.

I dash forward, screaming with fervor.

The soldier swings his giant blade, striking for my body.

I leap into the air, over his attack.

And I land on top of him, wrapping my legs around his giant neck. I drop my swords and grab his helmet with my hands. It is hot, burning my fingers, but I ignore the pain, pulling, pulling. I yank the helmet off and throw it to the side.

I jump down, avoiding his strikes, and I grab Spero from the ground.

Then I leap forward.

My blade aimed at his head.

And then I see his face.

His face.

And I can't do it.

I can't end it.

I lower my blade, missing on purpose, and turn to face him.

Before me, clad in scorched armor, his face red with tears, stands Ace.

"Why?" I whisper.

His voice trembles with pain. "Because he wants to lift the curse. Don't you see? He wants to lift the curse. And when he does, I can be with Patricia."