Lucia blinked—just once.0

"Yog, why aren't you saying anyth—" Lucia began, turning her head, but the words died in her throat.0

It struck her then. She hadn't heard a single whisper from Yog since they'd left the fortress. She didn't exactly know why or how, but one thing was clear: Ian had sealed it away, locked in that unseen space.2

Biting her lip hard beneath the mask, Lucia turned the rest of the way and fixed her gaze on the head of the procession.0

The Wolves had parted to either side, revealing the Black Lion kneeling on one knee, her warhorse standing guard beside her. Seren's head was bowed, almost as if in prayer.0

Lucia finally let out a breath of relief and stretched her hand forward. "I'll explain later. For now, we need to hide Sir Ian. Help me, Diana. ...Diana?"0

Frowning, Lucia lifted her head. Diana was still staring up at the sky, eyes wide through the slits of her mask—so wide they looked like they might tear.0

Lucia followed her gaze—and instantly understood.0

The sky's darkness, now unnaturally close to the point of discomfort, had begun to writhe like sticky tar. The ash-gray vortex at its edges spun faster, deeper, and more vividly than before. It felt like a massive, unseen eye was staring...0