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“Speaking of which,” Fern mumbled around a mouthful of her breakfast, “what is the stone meant to do exactly?”

Brand and Luna felt it at the same moment, Luna’s last words helping it settle into place.

“I think it’s the lock on the cage, somehow,” she said. “With that perpetually tied to me, and the stone perpetually tied to him, I think part of the sacrifice is that we will never fully be rid of her.”

Faldir crossed his arms, mouth twisted with disgust. “I still don’t understand why we don’t just kill her.”

Hedda pounded her fist against the table. “Hear, hear.”

Brand’s stomach turned, the memory of a final conversation before leaving Argoph rising up to taunt him. He’d buried it, ignored it, as long as he could, and there was no choice but to finally face it now. “My parents forbid it, unless absolutely necessary,” he said, voice flat. “We need to know what she knows, whether there’s anyone else, et cetera. She’ll be tried once they’re convinced she has nothing else to offer.”

And he would have a front fucking seat to her execution.

“What I wanna know is who was locked in the first one and why they aren’t anymore.”

Brand snapped his attention to Fern. “What do you mean?”

“I may not be able to read the words, but I can see the pictures well enough. Look away if you’re not a Celestial star goddess, an Imperial, or me.” The twins rolled their eyes in tandem and turned around as Fern plucked the book from the table. Flipping it open to the back, she pointed. “This picture is not the same as the ones that moved for you two. I think this was someone else who’s already done it, and yours is emulating. The story was talking about immortal shite, too, eh? Although, why it’s all out of order is…” She shrugged and tossed it back down.

Fern was right. Looking at it, there was something more about the ones she and Luna originally discovered. As to the order…

Brand tilted his head. “Luna, have you tried reading this backwards?”

One of her brows shot up. “Since that would be absurd, no. Besides, the very last lines refer directly to me. And you, sort of.”

The whisper of a giggle passed through the recesses of his mind, Luna going stock still at the same moment. A breath, and she was pinching the bridge of her nose.

Endellion.

“Well?”

“All she said was ’Do they?’ and ‘There are more twilights and midnights than stars in the sky’ and was gone.”

Fern snorted. “So fucking glad I don’t have to listen to her drivel.”

“No shite.” Hedda called over her shoulder.

“How about we leave that for when we aren’t right in the middle of a bleeding battle.” Luna slammed the book shut. “I think we’re ready to finish this. Unless you feel something else, Fern?”

“Oh, we were ready before Brand insisted on trying out his new trick.” She shoved a final bit of cheese and flatbread into her mouth. “I just wanted to finish my food.”

It was the first good laugh Brand had in a long while.

“Does everyone remember the position they were in?” Lunara tried to calm the racing of her heart, but it was no use. “If we do this right, she’ll never even realize we were gone.”

Brand stopped her pacing and cupped her cheek as the others gathered ‘round. “I love you, Lunara. Even if it all goes wrong and I have to do it from the Veil, I love you.”

“Don’t do that,” she snapped. “Don’t say goodbye to me just in case. If today means the Veil, I’m either going with you or pulling you out.”

“It’s not a goodbye if it’s true regardless of circumstance.” His crooked smile was gentle, adoring. “I just happen to be saying it when everything is shite.” He tucked a stray curl away when her breath shuddered, thumb lingering on the shell of her ear. “I know, little moon, but there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Damn him for knowing her so well. For feeling the dread twisting in her gut like poison. Even now, her hand trembled around the dagger, her mind working to hold on to the plan.

It wasn’t the battle that scared her, it was the idea of losing him again.

Brand stepped back, whorls flashing as the rage consumed him. “Alright, you lot—just as before, close as you can manage.”

He knelt and planted his hands on the library floor, and everyone placed themselves just so. Fern had even gone to the effort of mussing everyone up, using bits of their breakfast to make them look filthy again with Kala’s help.