"That's not a plan," Kade said finally, breaking the silence with the blunt frustration of a man who preferred enemies he could fight to problems he couldn't. "That's a hope dressed up as a solution. You're telling us the old magic needs to recognize something real between all six of us, inside four days, in the middle of a forest that's already tried to kill Luna twice and is apparently home to House Marrow's private enforcers and a creature the size of a house."
"I'm telling you the truth as I understand it," Maren said, unbothered by his tone. "I never promised it would be easy. I promised it was the only path that doesn't end with Lady Ellery dead regardless of which choice she makes at the end of seven days."
"How does the magic even measure that," Sylas asked, some of his usual sha
