Kale wondered if he’d finally lost his mind. Ferrox had been exceptionally distant, so there was no one to give him a second opinion. And it seemed like the only possibility until she yelled at him.

“Come on, Scotchie. Help me keep them from the gate. Gawk later.”

Kale’s mouth flopped open and closed. He took in the scene around him. Vera was surrounded on every side by genies, just like in Jemma’s pictures. She wasn’t fighting against them, though, she was fighting with them. At the moment, they were holding back a band of Amazonians. The warrior women appeared to be the first wave. Behind them, Marianna was leading the rest of an army. And they were coming fast. Mimi and Addamas were there too. And Yama?

Kale wasn’t sure exactly what was happening. He’d come to lead a rescue mission against the weaver and some genies, but was suddenly in the middle of a battle. It looked like the entire world was represented on one side or another. He called orders at those spilling through the gate from the meadow, letting them know the change in plans.

“Hold them back,” Kale shouted.

Braxas launched into the air, spewing flames to slow their approach. Rhena raced around their company, spinning a web between them and the rest of the army. From the other side, Marianna’s enchanters began working their way through, but the leprechauns poofed in and out among them, knocking them into the webbing. Rhena continued adding layer after layer, sealing the holes as they were formed. Kale knocked away a wizard before he could complete his incantation. A few dwarves snuck through the net only to be snagged by some aggressive greenery.

Most of Marianna’s army remained outside their webbed dome. The ones on the inside were outnumbered ten to one. Not that those odds would slow an Amazonian. Kale recognized one of the warriors, who made a beeline for Vera. He never would’ve expected to see the queen of the tribe, her belly distended with her next offspring. He grabbed her long braid, flipped her around, and pinned her with a knee to the center of the back. Without the baby bump, she would’ve been able to break free, but she was unwieldy in her current condition.

“Majesty,” he said. “Perhaps you should tell your women to stand down.” The fact that she was fighting, despite her pregnancy, told him that she was not expecting a new princess. Even still, he couldn’t imagine much that would send her into a fray like this—unless she didn’t care about the child’s life at all.

She spat at the ground in defiance.

“Why are you marching against Earth, Highness? What’s in it for you?”

“Doing my part to protect the realms.”

“More kindness from the depths of your hearts? Your tribe is going soft.”

The Amazonian struggled, but Kale pushed his knee harder into her back. She didn’t fight it. What would make her want such an injury? “Something wrong with your spawn, Majesty?” She didn’t answer, and he didn’t expect her to. “Is it another boy? Do you have so many males that they are expendable now? Or…” Kale looked up sharply. “Vera,” he called.

She ducked under a staff as it swung toward her head. “I’m a little busy just now.”

“Well, make it a quick ultrasound then.”

The scorpions worked their way through the Amazonians, putting themselves between Vera and the women. She looked over, scanning for magic.

“The baby has a void,” she proclaimed.

“That’s what I figured.” He grinned. “All your mixing with the crocodiles finally caught up with you. You don’t care if a siphon baby doesn’t make it, but that still doesn’t explain why you’re fighting.”

A sword flashed down, aimed for his back. Hutran intercepted it with his horn. Blast. Now I owe that moron.

“The only thing you care about is more girls for your numbers.” He growled. “You’re looking for new hunting grounds.”

“I heard a rumor that humans are the perfect breeding stock,” she replied.

“So you planned to smuggle a few away from the carnage and create a farm?”

“I don’t see why it matters to you. The alchemists have been farming humans since the world unraveled.”

“They aren’t farming humans. They’ve created a refuge for them.”

The queen snorted. “Tell yourself what you have to, if it helps you sleep at night.”

Kale sighed. “Is it a boy or a girl?”

“It’s an abomination. Just like the last three females.”

So it was a girl, and it wasn’t the first siphon. No wonder the tribe was desperate. He didn’t have to ask what had happened to the rest. He already knew they hadn’t made it past birth. It was the same in any realm when a siphon had the misfortune to be created. “That girl your women are attempting to kill can turn off the siphon. Your princess can live.”

“You lie!” screamed Marianna on the other side of the dome. She’d appeared without warning. Kale stiffened. After all this time she was right there—just beyond Rhena’s web. Apparently, she’d completely the last of her mind too, because she was well aware of what Vera could do. Either that or she wanted to instigate a war fueled by lies. That seemed the likeliest possibility from what Kale could see. The army following her quieted.

“You know I’m not lying,” Kale said. “What game are you playing?”

The Amazonian queen stopped fighting, indecision written on her face. She let out a war cry, and her women stopped fighting too. They backed away from Kale’s people.

“Prove it,” taunted Marianna.

“I would love to prove it to everyone,” Vera said. “But I cannot prove that I used to be a siphon.”

Murmurs went around the crowd outside the web. Inside the dome, her proclamation was not news to most people, but a few still looked surprised.

“She’s not a siphon!” someone yelled. “We can sense her magic. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s not siphon.”

Marianna smiled like she’d already won. She turned to address her warriors, spreading her arms wide to encompass them all. “Every group of magic wielders is represented here today. They can all see that you are not a siphon.”

“Because I learned how to free my magic. That’s all a siphon is—someone whose magic is locked away.”

“So you just embraced this hidden magic and poof? You’re no longer a siphon?” mocked Marianna. “If that were possible, don’t you think someone would’ve figured it out sooner?”

“I didn’t do it on my own. A lot of people had to help me.” Vera lifted one shoulder. “We’ve just all forgotten how to do that.”

“Show us that you’re telling the truth,” Marianna challenged. “Put your magic away and prove that your kind can be saved. Show us that we’ve been wrong about siphons this whole time…if you can.”

Vera frowned. “If I can show you all that a siphon isn’t what you think, will you at least listen to me?”

“Prove it!” screamed someone.

“Or die!”

A chant of prove it, prove it, prove it filled the space around them. Vera closed her eyes, and the crowd fell silent. Kale had no idea what was going on, but the wielders began to whisper.

Hints of “Can it be true?” met his ears.

And then, just as Vera opened her eyes, Ferrox woke up. He speared into Vera’s mind. Kale couldn’t pull him back. He couldn’t move at all.

Sorry about this, Ferrox said.

What are you doing? Kale asked.

What I need to, Ferrox replied.

I can’t get my magic back out. Vera panicked. It’s gone.

It’s not gone, assured Ferrox. I just set a barrier in your mind so you cannot find it.

Well, cut it out, Vera demanded. My siphon is hungry.

That’s kind of the plan, said Ferrox.

What plan? Kale asked with a sinking feeling. It was multiplied because Vera felt the same thing.

How long have you been working with the weaver? Kale asked Ferrox.

Only a few days.

Kale tried to shove the demon down, but after days of rest, Ferrox was too powerful.

“Vera, dear,” called Marianna. Her eyes sparkled with something like pride. “You have exceeded all of my expectations. Give them hell.”

And then Vera screamed. Kale felt her struggling to resist as Marianna shoved magic into her. Vera’s siphon latched onto it. Without her magics to call on, Vera was helpless to stop the flow. People around Marianna started backing away.

“She’s siphoning her!”

“The scourge has begun again!”

But with all those wielders there to witness, they knew the truth. Vera wasn’t doing anything. Marianna—their leader—was. Marianna fell to her knees. The power built up inside Vera until she felt like she was coming apart.

It’s too much.

I’m here, Kale said. You’re going to be okay. You cannot die on me a second time.

I never died.

I can see that.

I almost died, she informed him. There’s a hole through the middle of my chest. It’s going to scar.

I will make that infernal pay for that.

Vera’s breath came faster. Why is Marianna doing this?

I don’t know.

“Almost done.” Marianna winced. “No dear, you cannot have that last piece.”

And just like that, the magic cut off. Mimi caught Vera before she fell. Kale was still held motionless by Ferrox.

“And now it’s your turn,” Marianna said to Kale.

His whole world split, ripping at the seams until his eyes rolled back and darkness consumed him.

As Kale fell, Ferrox was yanked from Vera’s mind. Her magics surged forward, filling her again. They collected the weaver’s magic and shoved it down, keeping it where it could not harm Vera—their Vera. Kale was on the ground, lifeless. Ferrox stood beside him. The demon horse threw back his head, eyes flaring red. Mimi hissed at him, but he ignored her.

Siphon girl, remember that favor you owe me?

I don’t owe you anything. Especially after what you’ve done.

Actually, you do. From when I didn’t tell Kale that you were going to try to get him naked.

Pretend, she clarified.

So you do remember.

I remember that going very wrong, and you booking it out of there like scared elf.

Still, I kept my end of the bargain and told him nothing. You owe me.

Is he all right? Vera eyed Kale until she saw his chest rising and falling.

He’ll live.

Why are you bringing this up?

Marianna screamed, and Ferrox tensed. It’s time for me to go. Take care of him. That’s my demand.

Where are you going?

Very soon, I’m going to Hell. The demon approached Vera.

Why?

I’m a demon, remember? That’s where all demons go when they die. Ferrox nudged her with his nose.

Why do I have a feeling you’re about to save us all?

You know I’ll deny that accusation for all of eternity, he said. And then he strode for the webbed barrier.

Rhena cut a slit to let him through to Marianna, who was curled on the ground just outside. The spider queen threw Vera an apologetic look. Was anyone not working with Marianna?

Braxas, Ferrox replied. He’s just doing this as a favor to me.

A gate popped up beside Vera. She stumbled away when Jemma walked out.

“Hey.” Jemma’s eyes darted around nervously. “I brought you something.” She held out the ancient book from Earth.

Vera took it reflexively, looking back and forth between the girl and the gate.

“It’s a long story,” Jemma said. “The binding of this book was sewn with Marianna’s life thread. You’ve got to tear it out or she can’t die.”

Ferrox shifted, and Vera finally got a good look at Marianna. Her well was filled with Kale’s unnatural mist. She had drained her own magic into Vera and then taken his. But the weaver was struggling to hold on to it.

It’s actually quite brilliant, Ferrox said grudgingly. An unnatural bond has to be sealed with a sacrifice—willing or not. Since she’s going to sacrifice herself, it gets rid of Kale’s unnatural bond at the same time a new one is created.

Vera gasped, finally understanding. She’d been searching for a way to get rid of Kale’s unnatural bond, but she’d never thought about transferring it to someone else.

Fortunately, we’ll be dead soon, Ferrox grumbled. I couldn’t handle being bonded with this crazy wench for more than a minute.

There has to be another way.

Marianna says there’s not, and it’s fine. I won’t stick around Hell for long. Do you know what they do to demons there?

Ferrox—

Take care of him. That was Ferrox’s last words. In a blur, he and Marianna merged. When the unnatural Marianna stood, she smiled at Vera. If she’d ever had any morality, it was gone, replaced by vicious cunning. The weaver grabbed the nearest person by the neck.

“I’ll trade you this person for that book, dear.”

Vera choked on a sob and pulled on her centaur strength to tear the book in two down the binding. Marianna screamed in outrage but was still standing. It was only for a minute though. Their executioner arrived from the sky. Braxas tore through Marianna. She and Ferrox were gone in a moment. All around Vera were faces filled with fear and confusion, but no one ran, and no one attacked. Marianna had created an audience, made up of all the beings in the world, for her show. And what a show it had been.

“Can you truly heal a siphon?” asked an Amazonian.

“Yes.” Vera dropped to her knees beside Kale.

When she touched him, his eyes popped open, and his mouth stretched wide in agony. From his void, the siphon that had been suppressed by his unnatural bindings for centuries, reared up with a vengeance. It tried to latch onto one of Vera’s magics, but every time it did, another fought it back. Before Kale’s siphon went after someone nearby, Vera plunged into his void with her mind. She called on the demas and tempestarii locked away there all his life. This was why she made sure I met Petr. I needed my tempestarii magic to save Kale. After so long, Kale’s magics were wary to answer her call.

Come on, guys. You don’t have to hide anymore. For a heartbeat, she was terrified that they were broken, but the doors slowly opened and they spilled into his void. Each kept to its own side. Vera had a feeling it would take some time to get those two to come together. At least they were out though.

“That feels weird,” Kale said.

“Tell me about it.”

Around them, the Amazonians fell to their knees.

“No one shall harm you while we draw breath,” promised the leader.

Kale raised a brow at Vera. “I think you officially have the best luck in the world.”

“Hey, I worked hard to make that luck,” Vera said through the tears she refused to spill.

Mimi pounced on him and started licking.

Vera grinned.

He caught Vera’s gaze. “I’m glad you’re alive.”

“Me too.” She bit her lip. “I’m so sorry about Ferrox.”

Kale’s throat bobbed, but he rolled his eyes. “He’ll be back.”

Vera decided it was a topic that could wait until they weren’t surrounded by tons of strangers. She glanced around. “Any idea how to handle this part? What are we supposed to say to them?”

“Actually, I’m getting pretty good at addressing the troops.”

“That’s good. I’m more of a one-on-one kinda girl.”

“Vera,” he growled, pushing Mimi off him. “Kiss me.”

Vera obeyed him. For the first time ever.

It was hours before everyone was escorted through the meadow to the proper gates. No more genie transportation. Some realms seemed open to the changes that were coming. Others were more leery. At least talk of wiping out all humans had been silenced for the time being. That was something to celebrate. Kale was called into a meeting with the heads of the realms, who wanted more information on the proposed exchange program. He tried to get out of it for Vera’s sake, but she told him to go ahead. She needed time to shower and some space to get her mind in order. He hadn’t liked the idea, but they needed his input on security and reassurance that their people would be safe.

Vera stumbled through her door and halted.

“Hey, Vera.”

“Jemma,” she said carefully.

“Sorry about my part in what happened. Honestly, I didn’t even know anything until yesterday. And then I saw that if I stayed here, you would die. So I took the book and left.”

“How did you know Marianna?”

“It’s going to sound crazy, but she was my third-grade teacher. She taught me to draw—encouraged me to. When weird things happened, she taught me how to keep the drawings on the paper unless I wanted to let them go. We practiced with these cool butterflies until I got it right. I even drew a snake for her because she said they were her favorite.”

Fred. “Yeah, she was weird like that.”

“I didn’t know all the rest though,” Jemma said. “I’m still figuring it out.”

“I think there are a lot of people in the same boat,” Vera replied. “Did you see Marianna recently?”

“No, not since I was little. Except in my head yesterday.” Jemma held up the torn book. “I’ve been reading in here, though, and it’s helped me understand more about what I can do.”

“You can read it?” Vera asked curiously

A crease formed between Jemma’s brows. “Yes, I don’t think I’m an oracle. Or a daayan.”

“You’re a weaver,” Vera said.

“You already figured it out too.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s funny, right? When Marianna was my teacher, she used to tell me that I wove beautiful pictures. I never understood it, but now I do. Weavers can weave things into reality. Marianna did it with a loom, but I use my drawings.” She held the book out.

“Have you read it all?”

“Not yet.”

“Keep it,” Vera said. “When I’m ready, I’ll get it back from you. Right now, I need to wrap my head around what I already know.”

Jemma hugged the book sections to her chest. “I need to see if Seb and Pili will ever talk to me again.”

“They’re back in Heliopolis,” Vera told her. “Mimi has some work to do there.”

“Oh.”

“They’ll be back when school starts in the fall,” Vera offered.

Jemma still drooped. “I really am sorry.”

“We were all just pawns in one big plan. You were the same as me.”

“Thank you.” Jemma nodded and headed for the hallway. “I’ll leave you alone now.”

Vera leaned against the door after Jemma left. She wondered when the tears would hit. At that moment, she just felt numb, but she was sure many emotions would be involved before she moved on from everything that had happened. There were snatches of wonder too, though. The exchange program was becoming a reality. Although, she’d never forget the cost to get to that point.

With effort, Vera pushed herself off the door and went to get a pair of clean pajamas. A folded letter lay on her nightstand. Beneath it was the small wooden box that Marianna had given her on the day they’d first met. Vera didn’t want to think about how the weaver had left it there or when. The top of the box was emblazoned with a familiar sunburst of fourteen stones, one for each of the realms. Plus the spot where one was missing—Mu. The fifteenth kingdom that had been lost without anyone knowing. Inside, Vera found the acorn Marianna had put there. Vera blinked at the tiny sprout emerging from the nut. Crazy. It’s like a million years old. She had no idea why it was finally sprouting.

Vera unfolded the note. It read, Plant it and take care of it, dear. It will attract your kind. And that is always a lucky thing. –Marianna. PS. We never planned for you two to fall in love. I’m so glad you went off-script for that one.