“Where did all of this come from?” Sarrask asked, touching the chrome walls of the underground tunnels. It didn’t look like he knew anything about the secret passageway. I had to hand it to Jareth: he was a sneaky guy, building all of this right under everyone’s noses. Even now, I realized he must have been planning it for a long time, leading me to wonder just how long he’d had doubts about Gianne’s ability to rule.

I smiled. “I guess your father thought he might need an escape route from the house, in case one of his sons stupidly decided to betray him.”

“If it makes any difference, I wish I hadn’t done it.” His cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

I shrugged. “It makes a bit of a difference, but not to your father. He’s still on his way to life imprisonment. Even without a scrap of evidence to use against him, she’ll keep Jareth where she can see him. After all, he’ll be the only one who knows the truth about the elixir.”

“Well, unless we take something.”

His suggestion made me nervous, solidifying my previous fears that he would never truly be on our side. What if he was using this moment as an opportunity to take what he couldn’t get last time? I’d have to keep a close eye on him.

“Why else do you think we’re down here?” I asked, flashing him a grin over my shoulder.

We reached the steps leading up into Jareth’s alchemy lab. The red lever stuck out like a sore thumb, and though I knew what it would mean, a childish part of me was excited to pull it.

I went first, pulling myself up through the gap, brushing the dust off my legs as I stood in the now-familiar space. Nothing had changed since the last time I’d been here. Ducking down under the utensil tray, I yanked away the black box I’d put there, storing it for later. I really wished they’d made the pockets on Vysanthean pants bigger; I was starting to get bruises from all the waistband storage I was being forced to undertake.

“What was that?” Sarrask asked suspiciously.

“A comm device Navan gave me. Jareth confiscated it—I thought I’d take it back.”

Apparently satisfied by my explanation, Sarrask wandered over to the far corner of the room, while I stole the key from under the utensil tray and went to the cabinet drawers, unlocking them one by one and sifting through the contents. I made sure to snatch up the journal that Ronad had been so angry about, but it was bulkier than I’d expected. I’d need a bag of some kind. I pulled an apron down from one of the wall hooks and fashioned it into a canvas tote, piling my pilfered goods inside.

As I searched through the cabinets, I quickly realized there was nothing useful inside. All the notebooks and sheets of paper that I’d presumed were linked to the elixir were just old documents about bygone experiments, according to Sarrask. Everything was old.

“What’s that?” I asked, turning back to Sarrask. He was fiddling with a vault tucked away under one of the workbenches, behind the façade of desk drawers. I could see how I’d missed it the first time I’d looked around; the painted panel was pretty convincing.

“A safe of some kind,” he replied, typing in a few codes.

“Can you break into it?”

He grimaced. “Not without the right code. Plus, there’s a wire running out a hole in the side. It links to the rest of the explosives.”

“Too many wrong numbers, and the whole thing probably goes up in flames,” I muttered. Jareth really hadn’t taken any chances with his notes. I would have bet good money that his actual notebooks—the ones that might be of some use—were stowed away in that vault.

“We could try cutting it?” Sarrask suggested.

“No way. I bet that triggers the whole thing, too.” I’d seen enough action movies to know that cutting a random wire was never a good idea. “Your father wanted to keep his secrets safe, and he’s managed it. I’m glad we got here first. Can you imagine what might’ve happened if the researchers had come in here and started messing with things?”

Sarrask frowned. “What, so we’re giving up on getting his notebooks?”

“What choice do we have? Besides, the secrets will be completely safe with your father, for now. He won’t give them to Gianne, or anyone. Not while he needs leverage.”

“Guess you’re right. I just don’t like the thought of all that information going to waste,” he grumbled.

“Look, there’s nothing we can do about that now, and we’re running out of time before the researchers get here. I say we take whatever looks useful and get the hell out of here.”

Still grumbling, Sarrask picked up a few vials and notebooks, throwing them into another makeshift bag I’d created. I did the same, taking several leather-bound notebooks, a book on Vysanthean anatomy, and a few flimsy notepads that had been bound together with a piece of twine.

“You know, I didn’t mean to kiss you before, in the hallway,” Sarrask said unexpectedly, making me look up sharply.

“Sarrask, we really don’t need to talk about it. Honestly, I forgot it even happened,” I insisted, my cheeks burning.

Undeterred, he carried on. “It’s just… love and relationships are weird concepts here. You say hello to a girl, and then her parents are calling up your parents, talking about potential dates for a wedding.” He sighed. “I’ve never spoken to a woman as openly as I speak to you. Naya, maybe, but only because she was my sister. I don’t know what came over me when I tried to kiss you. I think I just got overwhelmed.”

“You don’t need to explain yourself. It was a shock, but let’s forget about it.” His sentiment was nice, but it didn’t make me feel any less uncomfortable.

“It wasn’t about me having feelings for you, that’s all. Feeling so close to someone… I didn’t know what to do with that. I haven’t felt close to anyone, my entire life.” He paused, glancing anxiously in my direction. “I really don’t have feelings for you, Riley. So I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.”

“Kissing someone will tend to do that,” I teased. I had no idea if he was telling the truth, or just trying to cover his ass, in case I told Navan what he’d done. Either way, he didn’t need to worry; I really didn’t want Navan finding out.

He smiled. “I deserved that.”

“Cool, so we agree never to bring this up ever again?”

He nodded. “Agreed.”

I wiped my brow in a mock gesture of relief and bundled up the items we’d taken from the alchemy lab, pushing one of the bags into Sarrask’s arms as we headed for the trapdoor. I was about to move down onto the first step when he spoke again.

“But you should know that you’re a unique kind of girl. I’ve never met anyone quite like you. Any man would be lucky to have someone like you.”

I tried so hard not to roll my eyes. “Thanks. I’ll let Navan know you think so.”

That seemed to silence him, and we made our way down into the passageway, throwing the apron-bags over our shoulders.

We hurried through the tunnels and out into the main body of the house, reaching the entrance hall within a few minutes. Ronad and Kaido were already standing there, empty-handed. I presumed they’d already stowed their belongings away on the vessel that Kaido had waiting outside.

“You got everything you want?” I asked.

Kaido nodded. “I managed to pack up most of my laboratory, as I had a system in place for just such an eventuality. It always pays to be organized.”

“Without that organization, I’d have still been here when the research team arrived.” Ronad laughed, though his eyes were rimmed with red. “He’d packed all of Naya’s things away and labeled everything, down to the most specific detail.”

“How else are you supposed to find what you’re looking for?” Kaido wondered, seemingly baffled by Ronad’s laughter.

“How about you? Did you find anything useful?” Ronad asked.

“Not really. Most of the good stuff was locked away, and the vault was rigged to blow,” I explained. “Take all this stuff, and I’ll run back and pull the lever. I should have a couple of minutes to get out, so leave the hatch open and the engine running.” I pushed my apron-bag of goodies into Ronad’s hands and set off down the hallway, retracing the steps I’d just taken.

“Be careful!” Ronad yelled after me.

It felt weird to be alone in the escape tunnels again, knowing what I was about to do. It had to happen, but that didn’t make it any easier. I was destroying Navan and Bashrik’s childhood home and everything they’d ever shared here. They hadn’t had the same opportunity that Ronad, Kaido, and Sarrask had been given, to gather together anything they might want to keep. Moreover, I was destroying memories of Naya, not only for Ronad, but for her brothers too. It really didn’t leave a good taste in my mouth.

I paused in front of the narrow stairwell, my eyes fixed on the red lever.

Taking a deep breath, I lunged upward and pulled down hard on the lever. It clicked into place. A small, rectangular timer appeared beside the lever, bright red symbols flashing on a black background. It was time to run.

Sprinting all the way back through the tunnels, I bolted out of the wardrobe door into the basement and staggered up into the hallways of the ground floor. I didn’t slow until I reached the front door, tearing out onto the gravel driveway, where the sleek silver vessel was waiting. It was the same one Kaido had brought us to the Idrax house in, which seemed oddly fitting.

Ronad was waiting by the open hatch. He pulled me in, and the small ship rose into the air. I expected the explosion to be instantaneous, but for a couple of minutes nothing happened. The mansion stood like a silent giant among the beautiful gardens and towering, redwood-like trees. I glanced at the bracelet on Ronad’s wrist, with the oval of onyxscye in the middle. Soon enough, it would be all that remained of the stone that had built the house in the first place.

We were a good distance away when a tremor bristled through the air, and a thunderous crack boomed below us. Fissures rocketed up the sides of the house, and the structure fell in on itself. It tipped into the lick of the rising flames that grew taller by the second, engulfing everything. Glass smashed, stone shattered, and black smoke billowed out, while a chemical odor filled the air. I’d never smelled napalm before, but I had a feeling it was something similar to the aroma stinging my nostrils.

Within a few moments, a blaze had taken hold of what remained of the house, destroying everything inside. The hatch closed with a whirr, prompting me to peer through the windows instead. I could see into the skeleton of the mansion. I watched as furniture disintegrated, the staircases fell away to nothing, and the last of the roof caved in on itself. The fire spread to the garden and the trees, lighting everything up until the smoke was so thick that it hid the wreckage from view.

Ronad couldn’t watch any of it, while Kaido and Sarrask looked on with blank expressions. To Kaido, it was probably just a building, a material thing that held little emotional value. His parents were safe, though one had been arrested, and he had his laboratory neatly packed up in crates, at the back of his ship—he had everything he needed. The mansion didn’t matter. Sarrask’s emotionless face was a little more surprising. I’d expected something from him, but his features were unreadable.

“Where are we headed?” I asked solemnly, unable to tear my eyes away from the blaze.

“You can take refuge at my home, for the time being,” Sarrask replied, blinking rapidly. The merest hint of a tear trickled down his cheek, only to be brushed away a split second later. So, he was feeling something after all.

“Thank you, Sarrask,” I said softly, since nobody else seemed eager to speak.

As we drifted toward Sarrask’s house, with him moving through to the cockpit to take charge of the controls, Kaido disappeared into the back of his ship and reemerged a moment later, brandishing a glowing bottle. He seemed to have entirely forgotten that the only home he knew had gone up in flames, and more important matters were taking precedence in his mind.

“My unexpected visit to the lab reminded me that I had something to give you,” he explained, handing me the glowing vial. “Here is the special item that I mentioned the last time you agreed to aid in my experiments.”

“What is it?” I asked, taking the gift. In the time that had passed since that day, I’d been striving to remember the visions I’d seen, but nothing had come back to me. I could remember a sensation or two—a feeling of being cold and scared—but that was it.

“I designed it based on your neurological feedback during my experiment,” he said, his manner excited. “I am certain you do not remember much from our test, but I learned a great deal. This formula is designed to mimic the brain function that occurred during that experiment. In doing so, it will stimulate the production and utilization of the natural imocea present in your system, making the most of the small quantity that is there. The effects should only last a short while, but you will experience heightened speed, strength, focus, healing ability, and acute sensory improvement.”

I gaped at him. “All of that is in this little bottle?”

“It is not the size that matters, Riley, but the potency of what is held within,” he said, entirely serious. I almost burst out laughing and heard Ronad snigger behind me. At least it had taken his mind off the burning house.

“How many uses are in here?” I wondered, stifling a giggle. The wing serum had been a much larger bottle, and even that had been used up pretty quickly.

“One or two, depending on how much you consume, and how intense you wish the reaction to be. I would recommend you do not use it recklessly,” Kaido explained. “I hope to develop the formula more, in time, but I require space and further resources for such a thing. The location must be correct—I cannot be expected to work in a subpar environment.”

I wasn’t sure if Kaido was making a sly dig at the prospect of Sarrask’s house. Even if he wasn’t, I was glad Sarrask was busy elsewhere. Today was hard enough without tensions running high.

“Thank you, Kaido,” I gushed. “This is a wonderful gift!”

Overwhelmed with gratitude, I pulled him into a friendly embrace. His body stiffened before he offered me an uncomfortable pat on the back, which felt more like he was trying to burp me than hug me. Ordinary Vysantheans weren’t too thrilled by emotional displays of contact, and Kaido was even less impressed.

“It is your reward for being so generous with your time and your brain,” he said, evidently relieved that I’d pulled away.

I couldn’t believe the kindness of the gift I held in my hands. Kaido couldn’t possibly understand the extent of my gratitude, and no amount of unwanted hugs would ever be able to convey it. While the coldbloods could take healing potions, I had nothing to speed up the repair of injuries, or aid in my recovery from sickness. For once, it would be a godsend to have something I could use, if anything happened to me. Plus, if Kaido planned to keep working on it, there was no telling what he could do for me, to keep me on a level playing field with the coldbloods.

My only concern now was whether Navan would be able to find us, now that we’d abandoned the Idrax mansion. I had the black box device stowed away in my waistband and wondered if I could get Ronad to help me use it. The signal might’ve been blocked when Mort tried to reconnect with Navan, but that didn’t mean it was still blocked. Besides, with Gianne already in the know about Navan’s return, an intercepted transmission didn’t really matter anymore.

I walked over to him. “Will you help me with this thing?” I asked, holding out the black box device.

“No harm in trying.”

“I have something else for you, too,” I admitted, plucking Naya’s journal out of the makeshift bag. “I thought it deserved to be with its rightful owner.”

He stared at the book in disbelief, tears glittering in his eyes. Tentatively, he took it from me and held it close to his chest. For a long time, he said nothing, setting the black box device down on a nearby shelf and losing himself in the first few pages of her journal, turning each leaf with a nervous delicacy. Although I was desperate for news of Navan, I knew contacting him would have to wait until we landed. Right now, this was more important.

“You have no idea what this means to me,” Ronad whispered, at last.

“I’m just glad you have it now, so you’ll always have something to remember her by.”

“It’s like hearing her speak again,” he murmured. “When I read the words, it’s like she’s here, saying them to me. You’ve given me the gift of her voice, Riley. I don’t have enough words of my own to thank you for that.”

I smiled. “It was my pleasure.”

Twenty minutes later, the ship descended toward a small village tucked away to the side of a little lake, where those ghost-like fish I’d seen during my first visit to the South were twisting beneath the glittering surface. It was a pretty place, with only a handful of houses. It really didn’t seem like the kind of place that Sarrask would choose to live in, but it appeared I was wrong.

We’d just set down outside a quaint little cottage and were about to head down the gangway when another ship landed beside us. All four of us froze in the belly of the ship, staring outward, fearing the worst. Had Gianne caught up to us already?

There was a hiss of hydraulics as the other ship’s hatch slid up. The gangway slid down to the ground, and Navan stepped out.