Trenalee stared at the horizon, gasping air into her overly taxed lungs. Beyond the battlements, the sun had set. The most dangerous time for them had arrived.

Darcy glanced up when the ringing resumed. The wall phone rang loud and often today, and her nerves screamed in rhythm with the sound. She glanced at the overhead light, glowering. Still off. Still no power or phones.

Dina stood silently within the door sill, listening to Tren’s frantic movements. He darted through the house, searching the abandoned building. She knew he would find nothing, but he had to know it. She could hear his need in every step.

Drew had never understood the escape room craze. She supposed that was part of the territory since a majority of her life functioned like one. Now, trapped in one with Reed, her opinion did not change one whit.

The fire further in the cave crackled loudly in the otherwise still night. Standing at the cave’s mouth, Sophia prayed Redford was right. That the light wouldn’t carry into the darkness. That they wouldn’t be found by the hunter.

Captain Tolle hadn’t been pleased with the reports of the Circle spreading further across Westergras. She knew the missive she held in her hands contained proof. If only it made any sense.

Redava hadn’t counted on the rain. Annoyingly, the weather remained one element out of her control. Today that meant she tromped down muddy streets with Lord Thain, Lady Linnae, and one other. Redava, eyes their atypical fourth member, Lord Duval, with excitement. The prize was nearly hers.

Gane lounged on his throne, the image of an unconcerned king before his court. An image he’d spent far too many years cultivating to wreck now, even as the encanters stood in their circle around the silvered basin in the room’s center. Grasping another grape, he placed it between his teeth and bit. Cool juices washed over his tongue. Stomach twisting with worry, he wanted to spit it out.

On a lonely mountaintop, an unprecedented meeting unfolded. There stood a king, looking haggard and weary. The “worthy” leader of men, Cadmus stood without his sword nor shield before the Queen Mother of all dragons.

Franson’s victory had been dampened, quite literally, by an insulting deluge. He’d finally done it. He’d finally conquered the Crystalline City. A feat no one had thought viable, but he had done it. Now he and his men sheltered beneath the cliff’s overhang while the rain hid everything.