“Wouldn’t have been able to do it if he hadn’t been so focused on you,” Ward replied.

Attes’s gaze shot to mine, and I looked away. He reached out and ran his palm over Aurelia’s scaled jaw. “Come on.” He came to my side, and Aurelia took off, rising into the sky. “Let’s get you home before any other asshole decides to show up.”

I nodded but then turned to the oneirou. “Are you coming back?”

“Eventually. No need to rush now that Embris is no more.” A grin appeared, curving the straight lines of his scars. “Can’t say I am even remotely upset about that.”

“We can agree on that,” Ward said gruffly, and my chest hollowed. He bowed his head toward me. “If you will excuse me, I would like to check on Penellaphe.”

“Thank you again,” I said, weariness settling in. And now that the adrenaline was gone, I could feel the cracks in my restraint starting to form.

Ward waved my gratitude off, walking away. Attes folded an arm around my waist and told Thierran, “Stay out of trouble.”

The oneirou smiled in a way that told me he planned to use this time to settle more scores. I wanted to laugh again.

Attes shadowstepped us back to the House of Haides, and as the mist around us faded, I saw familiar faces in the palace’s foyer. Solemn expressions. Worried eyes.

It was Rhain who stepped forward. “Sera?”

“Where is Nyktos?” Attes demanded.

“He’s still at the Pillars,” Rhain said, his gaze fixed on me. “Rhahar joined him to help. There’s been…”

There had been even more souls passing through the Pillars.

Because of me.

Because of Kolis.

A tremor coursed through me.

“I’ll have fresh water sent to your chambers,” Aios said, drawing away from a shockingly quiet Bele. “We’ll get you cleaned up.”

I said nothing, just started to go with Attes and Rhain as they led me toward the stairs. Some distant part of my brain clicked back on, and I remembered what the events of tonight actually meant. I needed to keep it together. For just a little bit longer.

“Are the Shadowlands secured?” I asked, barely recognizing my voice.

“Yes,” Lailah answered. “Soldiers are on the Rise surrounding Lethe and the palace since this…this began.”

“Has Theon been notified to watch for any movement?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Good.” I pressed my hand to my lower stomach, my mind racing. “We…should send someone to Mount Lotho,” I said, truly having no idea how much Holland would intervene if there was another attack. “There are only two draken remaining. Penellaphe’s Court will be vulnerable until she awakens.”

Lailah’s inhale was swift. “Only two?”

“Kolis,” I said, and that was all I could say about that.

“I’m already on it,” Attes assured me. “Aurelia will send Elias and several of my most trusted guards.”

“Sera.” Saion moved into my line of sight. “What are the orders if we see ships entering the Lassa Sea?”

I met his stare, but all I saw were the people of Lotho leaping to their deaths. “If they do not swear allegiance to the true Queen and King, destroy them.”

“Are you sure?” Attes asked.

“I think she was pretty clear,” Bele growled, eather pooling in her eyes.

Rhain turned to me. “There will be no turning back if that is what we do.”

“We are already past that point, and that was before Kolis had my family slaughtered,” I hissed, and Bele gasped. The shock radiating through each of their faces told me they hadn’t learned about that yet. Energy ramped up inside me. “We were already past that point. I just didn’t see it until now.”

“Fates,” Rhain rasped.

Attes hung his head in shame that didn’t belong to him.

“I will no longer risk the lives of those I care for,” I told them. “If any forces are perceived as a threat, destroy them.”

Saion nodded, anger mixing with the disbelief in his expression. “Understood and agreed.”

Lailah joined him, thumping her fist off her chest. “We will gladly follow those orders.”

I inhaled through the burning in my throat and eyes.

“Bele,” Attes said. “You need to protect your Court’s boundaries.”

Bele’s nostrils flared. “I need to protect my Queen—”

“You will be doing just that by making sure your Court doesn’t fall into Kolis’s hands,” I said.

Bele’s jaw flexed, but she nodded. “I promise that will not happen.”

“I know.” I forced a swallow. “Kolis is wounded. He will be out, but I don’t know for how long. And I assume Kyn isn’t in much better shape.”

“He’s not,” Attes confirmed.

“But we should plan for either of them to make a move at any point,” I continued, glancing at Rhain. “We need to send forces to Sirta to back up Bele.”

There were several nods.

“I will also send a division.” Attes tugged on my waist. “Come.”

Kars moved away from the pedestal and stopped in front of us. He lowered himself to one knee and bowed his head. “I am sorry for your loss,” he said, his voice thick. “May your family be welcomed into the arms of those waiting for them in the Vale.”

Tears clogged my throat and stung my eyes. I felt myself begin to shake and crack further. “Thank you.”

I had no idea how I ended up in my bedchambers, whether I had walked or Attes had shadowstepped us—for all I knew, he could’ve carried me. But we were there.

I looked around the space. Everything looked different now.

Attes stood in front of me and took my left hand in his. “Sera—”

Closing my eyes, I immediately regretted doing so. All I saw was the fear on the Chosen’s faces. The bodies of my family, strangers, and gods—bodies I had left in my wake.

I sucked in a short breath, stumbling back a step as I freed my hand from his grasp. “Dametria,” I gasped.

Attes frowned. “What?”

Part of me didn’t want to ask because if I’d done something to her… “Was she in Dalos? At Cor Palace or the Sanctuary?”

Understanding flickered across his features. “No, she was not. She has not been harmed.”

Thank the gods.

Attes inched closer. “You still haven’t closed this wound. It will not heal until you do.”

“Really haven’t had time.” In truth, I had completely forgotten about it.

“You need to close your wound.”

I stared at the ragged puncture wounds, feeling Nektas draw closer. There was so much blood on my arm, I had no idea who it actually belonged to.

“I swear to the Fates, Sera, if I have to force your mouth open to do so, I will,” Attes growled. “I’m giving you one more chance to do it yourself because Nyktos doesn’t need to return to see your wrist torn half-open.”

Nyktos.

Ash.

Hearing his name pierced my chest far more painfully than any arrow or dagger tonight. Gods, what would he think of me now? Would he still say that I was kind and loyal? That I thought of others before myself? That I wasn’t a monster? And the panic he must’ve felt while I fought Kolis… A shudder ran through me as I lifted my wrist and sealed the wounds.

“Thank you.” Attes thrust his hand through his hair and then dropped it. “Sera, I…” He briefly closed his eyes and then shook his head. “Nyktos will punch me three times more than last time for being in your bedchambers with you,” he joked, but the teasing didn’t reach his eyes or his tone. He exhaled heavily and then clasped the back of my neck. “I’m sorry, Sera. I’m so fucking sorry about everything.”

Everything.

I didn’t want to hear that because how could I apologize to all those who’d lost people they cared for today? I stepped away from him, my throat tightening.

“Kolis said none of this would’ve happened if I had given him Sotoria.”

Attes’s features tensed. “Sera—”

“You need to make sure she’s safe,” I said, my breath thinning. “If he gets to her, then all the deaths will have been for nothing.”

Eather streaked across his eyes. “He will not have her.”