I hear Regan shout something in protest, and Finn starts to say something too, but Coello puts a hand up to silence them.
“Agreed,” he says.
“Ayala,” Piper cries, “you can’t do this!”
But I can. If there’s no way out of this for me, at least I can set Sterling free. I walk down the steps toward Coello, ready to submit to an eternity of being his prisoner.
Coello waves his hand and I see the love amulet come flying through the air, its chain broken, landing delicately in his hand.
“Come on, lover boy,” Coello says, making a beckoning motion with his hand. Sterling comes walking down the lawn, his gait stiff and awkward, like he’s still in a trance.
“Wait!” I cry. “You were supposed to let him go!”
“Our deal, little wolf, was very specific: I was to release him from the captivity
