I kept my anxious thoughts to myself as we continued across Southern Vysanthe. After creeping through the barrier, we took an immediate left, clinging to the shadows of the mountainside and taking the less-traveled route to Regium. I missed the familiar sight of the fighting pits, even though it wasn’t a particularly pleasant landmark. Still, it was one that would have centered me, where I felt entirely disoriented. Everything below us looked the same, the landscape unchanging in its flat hostility, making me wonder if Korbin even knew where he was going.

An expansive plateau stretched out into the distance once we moved out of the protection of the mountain range. Barren wasteland rushed beneath us, the ground frozen and cracked, glistening with permafrost. Now and again, I’d catch sight of a twisted tree, its skeletal arms reaching to the sky as if in prayer, its leaves long since gone. There were settlements too, scattered around the flat landscape, though we were careful to give them a wide berth, knowing they might sound the alarm if they saw a squadron of soldiers approaching.

An hour later, the jagged peaks that surrounded Regium appeared in the distance. Their snowy caps glinted in the harsh sunlight, each one looking like the silvery tip of a spear, protecting the people within its guarded center. Instead of traveling toward the city, Korbin led us over a neighboring mountain range, before coming to a halt on a narrow ledge overlooking a black lake. Its frothing waves crashed against the slick cliffs that curved all around us.

Catching my breath, I stared down at the churning water and recognized the spot immediately. My head snapped up, and I felt a refreshed sense of panic as my eyes caught sight of the crystalline edge of the Observatory peering out just above our heads.

“Half of you are going to make the climb up to the Observatory to fit explosives along the underside of the building and in the joints that run along the wall,” Korbin explained, keeping his tone low. “This should cause the crystal structure to collapse in on itself, but we want to ensure maximum damage. So, I want the other half of you to get into the building itself and masquerade as citizens. Set explosives anywhere you can, though ensure they are well hidden. If we are discovered, it is unlikely we will make it out alive. Do you understand?”

Everyone nodded, though I longed to shoot back up into the air and keep flying until I was as far from everything as it was possible to be. I looked at Navan, and from his grim expression, he felt the same way. And yet, there was nothing we could do. If we betrayed Queen Brisha, our friends would suffer. And pissing off Brisha could potentially piss off Orion, if it would affect our standing with her. If we didn’t betray her, innocent southern Vysantheans would suffer. It was a terrible situation no matter which way we turned.

“You two need to stay outside the Observatory and stick to the outer perimeter,” Korbin declared, his gaze shooting toward Navan and me. “You’re too recognizable here, even in civilian clothes.”

I wasn’t sure if that was good news or bad news, but at least I wouldn’t have to look anyone in the eye as I set an explosive I knew would inflict pain and suffering on so many. Did that make it better? For me, perhaps, but not for those whose lives it might take.

“Of course, Commander Korbin,” Navan replied, while I’d lost all ability to speak.

“The explosives are self-sticking. All you need to do is place one on a surface and press the blue button once. This will keep it in place,” Korbin went on, his gaze darting around the assembled group. “Now, you need to press the button a second time to start the timer. Once you have done that, a light will flash. That means the explosive is primed and will detonate after a set amount of time. I have set the timer on each one. You have an hour to get out once the light starts flashing. Any questions?”

The group shook their heads, though I could see a glimpse of fear on each of their faces. It comforted me slightly to know they weren’t eager to do this either. And yet, nobody was mounting a rebellion, nobody was calling for it to stop, and I knew nobody would.

“Right, then get going!” Korbin said, separating the team into two groups. “Civilian team, make sure you fly up to the main entrance, so you look like you’ve come from the city. Outer team, keep yourselves hidden!” he added, ushering our group up the side of the slippery cliff face, while the others removed their military fatigues, revealing the civilian clothes beneath.

Our group was the smaller of the two, but I could sense the relief coming off my fellow trainees as we flew upward at a slow pace. I realized they were probably thinking the same as me—if they didn’t have to look their enemy in the eye, then surely that made it easier? I couldn’t entirely convince myself that was true, but I could understand the comfort that might come from it.

A few of the soldiers stopped at the underside of the Observatory, the steel base jutting out over the water. I grimaced as they removed a few of the explosives from their belts and fixed them to the outer surface of the structure, pressing the buttons in twice, as Korbin had instructed.

“Shall we head up?” Navan murmured, taking my hand.

I nodded, feeling wretched.

We clambered over the edge of the clifftop and crawled along the grass until we reached the outer wall of the Observatory. Through the transparent crystal, I could see all the people milling about inside. There were hundreds, if not thousands. At the very far corner, staring out at the choppy waters of the black lake, I saw the faces of coldblood children pressed to the glass, pulling faces and pointing out at the horizon. Nothing about this was right. Gianne had attacked her sister, and lives had been lost, that was true, but that didn’t make retaliation fair or just. Brisha was supposed to be the better one, the one whose side I thought I could take. But not now. Definitely not now.

“They’re all going to die,” I whispered, tears welling in my eyes. “There are children here, Navan!”

“There are so many coldbloods,” he breathed, seemingly in a world of his own as he gazed in horror at the building. “I… I didn’t think there would be this many.”

“There has to be something we can do,” I urged.

His hands balled into fists. “I want to save them, Riley. I want to save all of them. But how can we? You know what’s at stake. She knew that when she sent us here. She knew we would have to watch, even if we didn’t participate. She’s punishing us,” he said through gritted teeth, his eyes glittering with hatred.

Just then, my gaze caught a familiar face in the crowd, and I raised a hand to my mouth in abject horror. Seraphina, Navan’s fiancée, was making her way toward the side exit, which led out into the gardens, close to where we were crouched. It was a wild sort of display, with gnarled trees and sparse bushes, but there was an observation deck in the center that gave the best view of the lake. With the brutal winds battering the clifftop, nobody was out there at the moment, but Seraphina seemed to be heading straight for it.

A call to action echoed in my head: I needed to warn her. Once upon a time, she had saved my life by telling Lazar about the chip in my neck—I owed it to her to return the favor. Besides, it wasn’t only her life at stake. Seeing her served as an even more painful reminder that these were real people, with lives and families and hopes of their own. If I allowed the explosives to go off, then the blood was on my hands for not stopping it when I had the power to.

I couldn’t take it any longer.

Before Navan could pull me back, I jumped up and ran toward the observation deck, ducking behind the trunk of a twisted tree and crouching down as I lay in wait for Seraphina. Across the garden, I could see Navan’s horrified face, but he stayed where he was, evidently unsure what the heck I was doing. In truth, I wasn’t sure either. I just knew I had to do this.

She appeared a moment later, her head down, her expression thoughtful.

“Seraphina,” I whispered from behind the tree trunk, catching sight of Navan’s expression as the pieces fell into place for him.

Her head snapped up, a frightened look in her eyes. “Who’s there?” she demanded, her gaze darting around the garden. Navan ducked down before she could see him, but I poked my head out from behind the tree.

“It’s me, Riley,” I hissed.

Her face morphed into a mask of shock. “What are you doing here?! If anyone finds you, they’ll take you away, and… I don’t even want to think about what they’d do to you,” she said sharply, making sure she didn’t draw too much attention to me as she faced out toward the horizon.

“You are the one in danger, Seraphina,” I urged, knowing I was running out of time.

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You need to listen to me very carefully,” I replied, keeping one eye on the cliff edge for any of my fellow soldiers. “The Observatory is going to explode in less than an hour. Explosives have already been set and primed to detonate. I need you to help me evacuate this place without raising any alarms about the explosives or the soldiers who have infiltrated it,” I continued, praying she wouldn’t panic and start shouting. To my relief, she didn’t, her brow furrowed in thought.

“This is an attack by Queen Brisha?” Seraphina asked.

“It’s a retaliation for the destruction Gianne caused when she brought down Brisha’s alchemy lab,” I said quickly, feeling the weight of the task ahead on my shoulders.

For a moment, Seraphina didn’t speak, her gaze set upon the distant sky. I worried she was about to out us, or raise the alarm anyway. I wouldn’t have blamed her if she did, since it was likely the quickest way to evacuate a building of this size. And then, she glanced toward me.

“I’ll figure something out, Riley,” she promised. “If anyone finds out about this counterattack, it will prompt the breakout of actual war between the sisters. We need to make the explosion look like an accident. They have been seeking a reason to shatter the treaty, but this will not be it.”

“You’re… not on Gianne’s side?” I asked, genuinely curious.

She shook her head solemnly, her glossy hair gleaming in the sunlight. “I desire peace across Vysanthe, as it was before the sisters tore it in half. My loyalty lies with neither queen. In fact, if I had my way, there would be no queen at all, but a true democracy, appointed by the people, for the people. As that seems unlikely to happen anytime soon, I will be happy with a world without bloodshed instead,” she stated firmly, though there was uncertainty in her eyes. “Are you sure there is no way to stop the explosion altogether? Even if we come up with an excuse, Gianne will suspect foul play, and this is such a beautiful building. I would hate to see it crumble into the water.”

“If the explosion doesn’t happen, then Brisha will know it had something to do with Navan and me,” I explained, wishing I had a different answer for her. “She already doubts us, and has warned that if we try anything, then we will be punished. Not just us, but our loved ones too.”

She grimaced, flashing me a look of apology. “Who does she have?”

“Two of my friends, and Bashrik,” I replied, her eyes going wide in shock.

“Then we must try to protect everyone,” Seraphina said, after a short, tense pause. “If we can save the people here without raising an alarm that would result in the deaths of others, then we must do it. I will not see a drop of blood spilled, if I can help it,” she added, with a defiant nod.

I smiled inwardly, wishing more coldbloods could be like her. Unlike Navan, Seraphina seemed to understand the potential that still resided within the heart of Vysanthe. There was good to be found in this world, if people would only open their eyes to the positives, instead of scrapping over land like dogs over a meager bone. Indeed, she seemed more queenlike to me, in her diplomacy and grace, than Gianne and Brisha put together. Where they sought war, she sought peace.

“Thank you, Seraphina,” I whispered gratefully.

“Is Navan with you?” she asked, looking around.

“He’s hiding nearby,” I replied, though I’d lost sight of him after he ducked down in panic.

Seraphina smiled wryly. “It is strange that the pair of you should come here, as I have been visiting this place every day in the hopes of finding news of Navan. I have been peering over the shoulders of security officers, hoping to catch a glimpse of something that might tell me where he went, and now here you are.” She chuckled.

“Why were you looking for him?” I asked, not unkindly.

“Queen Gianne has decreed that she is willing to pardon him if he returns. I wanted to get the news to him so he might come home without fear of retribution,” she explained, a sorrowful look on her face.

I frowned, puzzled. “Why would she do that? She was pretty mad last time we saw her,” I remarked, recalling how she tried to shoot us out of the sky.

“It’s his father. Jareth told Gianne that Navan was forced into working for the rebels, and has vouched for his character. It would seem Gianne believes her most trusted advisor, since it’s not every day that someone like her offers forgiveness to apparent traitors,” Seraphina said, though I could sense she was holding something back. There was a sadness in her eyes that didn’t make sense. Nobody had died because of Navan’s indiscretions, as far as I could tell, so what was there to be so distressed about?

“Is something else troubling you?” I asked.

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s nothing, honestly.”

“There’s something else, I can tell,” I pressed, wanting to know what could bring such despair to a woman like her.

Seraphina sighed, visibly steeling herself. “Queen Gianne has also decreed that, if Navan doesn’t return to Southern Vysanthe, then I am to be wed to her advisor, Aurelius, in two months’ time.”

My stomach sank as I recalled the hunched old skeleton that followed Gianne around everywhere. I remembered the look of jealousy in his rheumy eyes when he spoke to Navan about Seraphina. I’d had an inkling about the reason behind his envy, even then, though I’d never gotten my suspicions confirmed. Now, it made sense. All this time, Aurelius had had his eye on Seraphina, desiring to have her for himself. And, if Navan didn’t come back, he would get exactly that.

I felt sick, realizing what it might mean. And yet, I didn’t know whether I had it in me to sit back and watch another woman endure that—be passed around like a prize instead of a person—especially one as good as Seraphina. Once this mission was complete, and the building had been evacuated, I knew I would have a difficult choice to make.

Right now, however, other lives mattered far more than my own.