How much farther is it? Vera needed a bathroom. Desperately.

“It can’t be much farther,” Kale replied.

Vera jerked at the lie.

Kale shook his head when she opened her mouth to berate him, and she snapped it closed. “We can trust the dwarves to get us there,” he lied again. “They know this jungle better than anyone.”

Well, that part was the truth. If Vera was piecing it all together correctly, she figured that meant the dwarves knew exactly where they were taking them. It just wasn’t to the world-gate. Crap on a Bigfoot cracker. Vera half expected Ferrox to give her a hard time the second the thought crossed her mind. He’d taken it upon himself to listen in on her thoughts while Kale was gone, making sure to comment on the absurd nonsense things that went through her head. That’s when she’d learned to shield her mind. However, after Talia, her shields were frayed. Ferrox didn’t say a word, though. Which meant he really had walled himself off from the world.

“Are you getting tired?” Kale asked her.

Of course I’m getting tired. She’d already made that clear. But she didn’t say anything because she wasn’t sure where he was going with that line of questioning.

“Want to ride?”

Oh. That’s where. A ride was something he only offered under dire circumstances. Like having to walk through an entire night, or injury, or post-battle shock. The fact that he was offering meant they were in a desperate situation. She didn’t dare argue. If they needed to run, it would be the best option. She turned toward him when the trill of a bird cut through the air.

“Don’t move, Vera,” Kale warned.

She halted.

“Turn around and keep moving,” he instructed.

“Why?” Vera was scared to move a muscle.

“That was not a bird call. It was a dwarf asking permission to shoot.”

“Which means we have to follow them to whatever trap they have laid ahead,” she concluded.

“Yes.”

Since it was obvious that she and Kale knew something was up, the dwarves stopped bothering to hide. There were dozens of them. Each brandished an ax or aimed a crossbow at her. The dwarf that had been leading them gave a vicious smile and beckoned them on. Like they had a flipping choice.

“Kale?”

“I’m working on it.”

“On what?” she asked.

But Kale didn’t explain. A dwarf with an arrow pointed at her head motioned with a nod for her to keep walking, so she did. Less than two minutes later, they entered a small clearing with a giant tree growing in the center. Some type of mushroom grew along the sides of the mottled red bark. Their guide walked up and ran a hand along a low branch. The tree shook. Then the trunk split. Long limbs curved down toward the ground, revealing a mouth facing the sky—rows of shark-like teeth and all.

Holy heck. It’s a man-eating tree.

The trill from before pierced the air. The dwarves closed in, corralling the two of them toward the tree.

Pretend to obey, Ferrox said.

Ferrox? Is Kale gone?

I’m here, Kale said. Just woke Ferrox for the party.

Why? she asked.

Thanks, Ferrox said dryly.

I didn’t mean it like that, she clarified. I’m glad you’re awake, but how does that help us?

We fight better as one.

Kale and Ferrox turned to face their attackers. Only, the fight never got started because a giant hand descended from the sky and knocked the dwarves aside with a single swipe. A couple of arrows they’d released at Kale hung from the hand like thorns. The giant cried out, and the dwarves turned tail and scrambled into the trees. Even the man-eating tree sealed closed. Vera thought it would sink into the ground to disappear if it could. That cannot be good.

You don’t say, Ferrox retorted.

I wasn’t talking to you.

The giant grabbed Kale and Ferrox by the legs, like a trapper holding a rabbit. Kale struggled, and the giant bashed him into a tree. Vera’s heart leaped into her throat when they hung limply from the dark hand. She made the mistake of looking up and was blinded. Instead of eyes, it had two suns shining from a face that she couldn’t make out. While she blinked, it grabbed her with its empty hand. The monstrosity held tightly enough that she could not escape, but not so tight that she couldn’t breathe. And then it began carrying them to who-knows-where. Each step jarred Vera.

She wasn’t sure how far he walked. Considering how long his legs were, there was no way to know. When they finally stopped, he tossed her into a spider web. Not a delicate web. The white cords were as thick as her wrist. Kale’s head rolled to the side until his hair caught on the sticky coating that held him in place. No, no, no. This is not happening.

“Kale?” she whisper-yelled. “Kale, wake up.”

He didn’t react. She knew if she couldn’t get him awake, they would end up the next husk corpses stumbling through the jungle toward Tiger’s Nest.

“Kale. Ferrox.” The web vibrated beneath her. Guys! Come on. You have to wake up!

What happened? asked a groggy Ferrox.

We are going to die, she informed him.

Die?

Vera screamed, eyes trained on a spider with the face of a woman approaching from the side. She was the size of a small car.

Kale’s eyes flew open.

“Is that the Guardian in my web?” asked a lilting voice.

“Who are you?” Kale blinked to clear his vision.

That’s a spider queen, Ferrox informed them. Rhena, to be exact. Bet she won’t like that you didn’t recognize her.

Lovely, Kale grumbled.

Why does neither of you seem overly concerned about Miss Spider?

“You do not recognize me?” The spider crouched, watching.

“Apologies, Highness,” said Kale. “My head is a little scrambled.”

“Yousef was worried you wouldn’t recognize him. Again. He decided he was only safe if you were unconscious.”

You know her? And her giant?

Yousef should wear bells around his ankles, Ferrox pronounce. If we could tell him apart from the others, then we could avoid little mishaps.

Rhena stalked closer, but neither Kale nor Ferrox noticed. They were too busy replaying the mishap where Yousef lost a mouth-size chunk of flesh while Ferrox escaped a city made out of spider webs.

Guys! Vera called with exasperation.

What? asked Ferrox, turning his attention to her. Oh, don’t worry. She probably won’t drink us for dinner.

Probably?

Well, if she realizes I’m part of Kale, those odds go up considerably. So maybe stop talking to me.

“Vera,” Kale said aloud. “This is Rhena. Second Queen of the White City.”

“Nice to meet you,” Vera said shakily.

“Rhena, my charge, Vera,” Kale introduced.

“Your charge? Really?” Rhena had a beautiful face, despite the second set of eyes near her temples. Her inky hair almost matched her skin. Her lips were deep red. The same shade as the marking on her spider back. While her face was stunning, the rest of her was terrifying. Including the fangs, which were shiny and much too close for comfort. One spindly leg passed inches from Vera’s face. It had a single claw on the tip, which cut through the webbing like a blade. Rhena made quick work of severing the webbing around Vera. Before Vera could brace herself, she fell backward and landed on a hard-packed jungle ground. Rhena was on her before she crawled to her feet.

“You know, I owe the Guardian for what his companion once did,” said Rhena. The hardness in her tone was not reassuring

“To be fair, that was not Ferrox’s fault,” said Kale. “That was your broth—” A piece of webbing landed on Kale’s face. All Vera could see of Kale’s face was one eye and half a nose. At least he wouldn’t suffocate.

“I had a charge once too,” continued Rhena, without giving Kale another look. “A lightning bird. He flew into my web when he just a chick, and I freed him. Raised him. Then that horse came and chased my bird into the wrong web. My brother doesn’t let anything escape his web. Not even my sweet bird. When I tried to steal him back, my brother did this.” Rhena turned. Where there should have been an eighth leg was only a stump. “Do you know how hard it is to weave with only seven legs?”

“No,” admitted Vera. “I can’t imagine.”

“I live out here so my siblings can’t take any more of my legs. I’m too weak to fight them off now.” Rhena sighed. “I only get to eat what falls into my web, and it’s never anything tasty like what I got back home.”

Vera cleared her throat. “Is there anything we can do to make it up to you?”

“The only thing I need is dinner. And I think I would be very happy to see the Guardian lose his charge like I lost mine.”

“I’m actually not his charge,” Vera protested.

“Nice try,” said Rhena

“It’s true,” she said. “He just likes to boss me around.”

“He does like to be in control, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah, it’s a problem.” Vera debated and then decided to go for it. “How long ago did your brother take off your leg?”

“Three hundred years ago.”

“It looks like it just happened.”

“That’s because spider wounds need to be webbed to heal, but my webbing will not adhere to my own body. It is a way to assure that our kind does not kill each other off. We need each other. Except my brother forbade anyone from helping me—he said it was for trying to steal from his web.”

“That’s a little excessive for trying to rescue your pet.”

“He made an example of me. We can’t afford people to believe they can take from us.”

“I think I can help you,” said Vera.

“By filling my stomach,” finished Rhena.

“I was thinking I could heal your leg.”

Rhena stilled. “If you could do that, I would owe you a great debt.”

“How about you promise not to eat Kale or me?”

“If you can do what you say, I give you my word.”

Now to see if I can. “I need your help with a little something first.”

“If you plan to trick me, I do not recommend it,” warned Rhena. She glanced at Yousef, who sat against a tree with his knees raised to his chest and his eyes closed. Vera assumed he was not actually asleep.

“I won’t. I just….” Vera took a steadying breath, not believing she was about to ask this. “Can I touch you?”

Rhena frowned.

“I promise I will not do anything to hurt you.”

“I’m not worried about that. It would take something like my siblings or a dragon to kill me. It’s just that no one has ever asked to touch me before.”

Yousef shifted. Vera closed her eyes when he opened his and sent a beam blaring in their direction. Rhena hissed, and the giant closed them again. As big as he was, it was impressive how he managed to blend in with the other outlines of massive dark trees—as long as he kept his eyes closed. There was a gentle trill of notes. They were sad somehow, and Vera was surprised that something so gentle came from the giant.

“You do not count, Yousef,” said the spider. “You are my jailer.”

“Your jailer?”

“Giants don’t guard the White City for us. They guard the rest of this realm against us. Yousef is my jailer. He took pity on me and smuggled me out of the city when my siblings cruelty became too much. He brought me out here. Only he won’t fail in his duty to protect the realm from my appetite, and so he stayed with me to keep me in line.”

“And he brings you dinner.”

“I haven’t eaten in a while,” Rhena admitted. “He was worried.”

“How do your siblings eat if they are trapped in the White City?”

“Those who break the law are sent there,” Rhena said without hesitation. “And when criminals are in short supply, there are always humans.”

Vera made a face.

“I assure you that they taste terrible, in case you were wondering.”

“I wasn’t wondering.” But she was second-guessing her offer to help the spider.

“They guard the gates of hell here,” Kale called out. Somehow, he’d gotten the webbing off his mouth—with only his teeth. “Without the spiders, kishi demons would rise and raze this realm before finding a way to move onto the next. Rhena and her sister are the last ones to oppose using the kishi in a war against Earth. It takes all seven royalty to open the gates.”

“My sister has decided she agrees with the rest,” corrected Rhena. “I am the last holdout. Which is why things became so bad that Yousef had to sneak me away.”

“They don’t know where you are?” asked Kale.

“One day they will find me, but for now Yousef protects me.” Rhena’s legs shifted. “After all this time, I wonder if they aren’t right to destroy that realm. Our forests are nearly hunted out. People are scarce. My brothers and sisters slept an extra year this cycle because of the depleted resources. They are tired of sleeping their lives away, and in the state I am in now, sleep does not come easily for me. If I agreed to help them, they would heal me.”

“I can heal you,” said Vera.

Rhena blinked slowly. “If I die, my webs would dissolve across the realm. My family would be able to release the kishi.”

“I’m not going to try to kill you.”

“Why should I believe you?”

Vera decided the truth was her best bet. “Because Earth is my home.”

Rhena’s claw dug deeper into Vera’s gut. “Siphon.”

“No… Well a little, but not like you think. Let me show you,” Vera rushed to summon her demas, demon, and scorpion. “I’m a mutt. And I’m part spider too.”

“That is not possible.”

“I get that a lot.” Vera rolled her eyes. “Look for the spider. It’s there.”

Vera startled when Rhena opened a third set of smaller eyes. How many did she have? For that matter, how many would Vera have? Inside Vera’s well, a door shivered and creaked open. Vera nearly shrieked at the feel of the magic, like tiny spiders rushing over her skin. Holy no. Nope. Huh-uh. The magic sensed her repulsion and turned to skitter away. Crap. Wait, I’m sorry. But they didn’t listen. Apparently, they were sensitive.

“You were telling the truth,” said Rhena. “But it doesn’t seem that it will do you or me any good.”

“I didn’t mean to upset them.”

“Them?” asked Rhena with a frown.

“My magic,” Vera clarified.

“Do you refer to all of your magics as if they were creatures of their own right?”

“Uh, yeah?” Vera said it as a question, wondering how weird it was. “Doesn’t everyone?”

“No. Our magic is an extension of ourselves. It’s a tool to be wielded.”

“I found that mine doesn’t react well to being wielded, per se. Plus, all my magics turn on each other when I try. Treating them like beings works pretty well, though.”

“There must be much opposition inside you.”

“Sometimes there are squabbles, but for the most part, it’s all good. It just takes a little getting used to.”

Rhena squinted. “You are peculiar.”

“Trust me, I know.” Vera’s mouth curved up ruefully. “Can you help me with my spiders? If I can get them to work with me, I think I can heal your leg.”

“You don’t like spiders, do you?” asked Rhena.

Vera didn’t answer. It seemed like a trick question with a spider claw digging into her and fangs dangling above her face.

“It’s okay. Not many people do. It is probably my siblings’ fault and mine. We are not forgiving, and we do enjoy a meal regularly. Whether we need to eat or not.”

“You think the fear of spiders across the realms is from back when the world was still whole?”

“It is the only way I can understand the irrational fear of something so small that creates such beauty.”

“Yeah, well they have fangs and bite too,” Vera pointed out. “And they crawl into your mouth when you sleep.”

“Any spider that stupid deserves to be devoured,” replied Rhena. “But I believe humans bite each other more often than all the spiderlings in the world. Human young are vile.”

Vera had to admit that she’d never been bitten by a spider that she could recall, but she’d been bitten by kids when she was little—a half dozen times at least. But still. They were spiders. With eight creepy legs.

“It’s all in your head,” said Rhena. “If someone hadn’t taught you to fear spiders, would you?”

“Probably not. Unless one bit me,” Vera eyed Rhena’s fangs.

“At this moment, I’m considering not.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

“Your magic won't bite either,” said Rhena.

“Let's try again?” Vera released a slow breath, steeling herself.

Rhena blinked all six eyes, and the spiders skittered forward from Vera’s void. This time more slowly. Vera held still against the feel of thousands of tiny legs. Be patient with me. I want to get to know you.

That seemed to be enough. While the magic preferred to angle toward Rhena than her, it didn’t run away. So they liked Rhena better than her. She couldn’t blame them. I want to heal her. Help me? Vera jerked when her stomach tightened. Rhena released her.

“What was that?” Vera peeled up her shirt and took slow, shallow breaths to keep from losing it. She’d made webbing from her belly button. I will not freak out. I will not freak out…I am totally freaking out. Her spiders shifted warily, and Vera sent grateful vibes. You guys did so good. I think. Vera touched the white mass.

“It doesn’t stick to me.”

“It’s your web,” said Rhena. “If it stuck to its maker, I’d get trapped in my own web.”

“Good point.” Here goes nothing. She pulled the mass away from her skin. If she didn’t think too much about it, it was like a cross between clay and slime. She took a scared peek at her stomach. It looked normal. But no matter how it looked, she’d never get over the fact that she had a superpower that allowed her to secrete spider web from her belly button. Kale and Ferrox, if either of you mentions this little talent to anyone, I will strangle you.

“Use it as a bandage,” instructed Rhena.

This keeps getting better. Vera had to touch a massive spider leg—a mangled spider leg. She swallowed hard and tried to blank her mind. The less she dwelled on what she was doing, the better off she would be. Moving quickly, she shaped the web over Rhena’s stump. Rhena whistled on an inhale. Vera froze.

“Sorry,” Vera said. “I’m trying to be gentle.”

“Just finish.”

Vera did and then stepped back. “Will that work?”

Rhena flexed her stump. “It will work.”

“So, you’re not going to eat me? Or Kale?”

“No.” Rhena backed away. “Why are you traveling with the Guardian? Does it have anything to do with why he looks like that?”

Vera knew she meant the extra legs and didn’t dare mention that it was Ferrox too. “I’m trying to find the person responsible for his transformation.”

“You think they’re in Zerzura?” Rhena climbed in the web.

“No, I’d hoped the soul-eaters could summon someone who knew her, but that didn’t work out.”

Rhena approached Kale. “Try anything, and I will call Yousef over, got it?”

“Got it.”

She cut him free.

On the ground, Kale stretched a couple of muscles. “How good is Yousef at hunting?”

“He’s great at hunting spiders, but not much else.”

In reply, Yousef grunted unhappily.

“How about I find you some lunch, so you don’t have to wait for it to cross your web,” offered Kale.

“It seems I will be in your debt as well as your…not-charge.”

“If you keep the kishi demons locked away, I will always be in your debt,” Kale countered.

“Same goes for me,” added Vera.

“I plan to. Especially since it seems I have relatives in Earth.” Rhena was referring to Vera. “I feel there is a story to be told about what has happened in Earth since the Unraveling.”

Vera shared all she knew about siphons and humans while Kale disappeared into the jungle.

“So the woman you seek knows the future.”

“But I don’t think she’s an oracle.” Unless zombies know how to beat my lie-detector powers.

“And she wove a list into someone’s mind,” mused Rhena.

“Something like that, yeah.”

“Did you know that spiders didn’t always know how to weave?”

“I didn’t.” Vera had no idea how that was relevant. “I thought it was something spiders were born knowing.”

“It is now. It is knowledge passed on from a mother to her children before they even hatch. But it wasn’t always knowledge we possessed.”

“How did you learn?”

“I am not that old but our legends, which are woven into the walls of our city, tell about a people who wove the very fabrics of fate.”

“I’ve read about the Fates.” But Vera hadn’t known they were real. “They were supposedly women who shared an eye and could cut and weave the threads of people’s lives.”

“That is an odd myth. But I can see how it might be translated as such after so long. The Fates became so disillusioned by the threads they saw, and by the histories they wove, that they retreated from the world. Most people forgot them, but we remember because they taught us to weave. They had their own eyes, however.”

“Do you know what realm they come from?”

“I do not. Our people tried to find them but were never able to. My ancestors took the knowledge of weaving, given to us by the weavers, and wove our city in their memory.”

“It’s all a spider’s web then?”

“Yes.”

“How do people not stick to the walls?”

“They do. No one enters the city except my family. Not willingly anyway.”

“Wow.” Vera was one hundred percent certain she wanted to see that. But only from a distance. “You know, I have a friend who weaves.”

“That is an interesting coincidence.”

Vera bit her lip, heart stuttering. “I’m beginning to not believe in coincidences.”

“That is wise.”

“But even if Marianna is one of the Fates, there’s no way she’s part of Suzie’s network. She’s been helping us save Earth.”

“Perhaps not. But maybe you should ask if she knows another of the Fates.”

Vera wanted to say that Marianna would’ve said something if she knew anything. Except that was not the case with the weaver, who kept her secrets close. Could she be one of the Fates? Vera had never thought to show Marianna and the others a picture of Suzie. Could they have known each other? “She’s been trying to get me to visit forever, but I’ve been too busy.” Vera tipped her head back to stare into the canopy while her thoughts organized. “She always seems to know more than is possible.” Like one of the Fates would. “I think it’s time to go see her.”

“If the world is in as bad a shape as you describe, I think you should plan to visit her soon.”

“That might be harder than you’d think.”

“Why?”

“Marianna finds you,” said Vera. “You don’t find her.”