Alone, I pulled the ring out of my pocket and rolled it in my hands. The temptation to put it on, and to finally have a power of my own called to me. But I’d seen too clearly what it had done to Cassava, how she’d hurt those she’d been charged with caring for.

“What do I do with it?”

There was no answer, no one I would trust with this weapon. I startled and realized that was what it was—a weapon.

A dangerous, addictive weapon that was far too powerful for any one person. I needed a place to hide it, to put it away from the world. The only question was, where?

It took me a long time of sitting on the cliff, dangling my legs as if I were ten years old again before a suitable hiding place came to me. A grin slipped over my lips. It was perfect, and no one would ever think to look there.

I stood, brushed off my clothes and headed to the inner Rim. I would have to wait until night fell, but that was fine. I could do that. The darkness of the night was nothing to fear, nothing at all compared to what I’d seen.

“No one will ever find it again,” I whispered, tightening my hand around the jewel.

Please, goddess, let that be true.

Chapter 24

The gala being held was over the top, an affair to remember by all accounts. A celebration of life, of new beginnings, and clean slates. Though the lung burrowers killed almost all the Enders, most of the general populace survived. Everyone was being told Cassava had been killed. A lie that would be shattered the minute she returned with a vengeance.

But for now, they were happy, and my father was safe. He held Fern lightly around the waist and she smiled up at him, her face glowing with happiness. No reason she shouldn’t be, he’d just asked her to marry him in front of everyone. Of course, she said yes, and the people were excited. A wedding was a huge affair in the Rim.

I watched from the edge of the gathering field. No different than any other time, I wasn’t invited, despite Fern’s protests to the contrary. She’d even had a gown made for me, in the latest human style, sleek and body hugging, a deep golden tone that matched my hair and eyes. While she was far from perfect, she would make a far better queen than Cassava. And I’d told her that. She teared up, hugging me tightly as she cried.

“I wish your father would change his mind, you are the best of his children.”

That had been the other reason I refused to attend, even though she’d fought for me to be there. Vetch, Belladonna, and Keeda were still living in the Spiral. They claimed Cassava had twisted their minds, just like everyone else. But those were lies I saw through with ease.

I would not be fooled by them, even if my father and others were. Cassava wasn’t done, and I had no doubt she would work through her three oldest children to bring her plans about.

So, as it was, I sat, crouched on the rooftop of the nearest house, watching. Making sure no one stepped out of line.

Protecting them, even though they didn’t see me, even though most of them still thought me useless. The irony was not lost on me.

“Hey, beautiful, could you use some company?”

Coal stared up at me from the ground and I held out a hand to him, pulling him up beside me. He hugged me to him, but I pushed him gently away, and turned back to watching over the field, the sparkling lights, lightning bugs and swaying dancers. “I’m on duty, Coal.”

“Look at you, being all proper-like. You have years yet before you’re a full Ender.” He touched the side of my head with his hand, fingers trailing down my face. Guilt hit me hard. I hadn’t told him I’d been the one to maim him. How could I?

And that guilt had allowed him back into my life, and into my bed. My eyes never stopped moving, watching for a sign that something was going to go wrong. “You know, when our family first came here, Enders were trained in less time, they were tested by being sent out to battle and if they survived, they were sent through the final testing stage.”

“That was then, Lark. This is now.”

I heard the footsteps, recognized the cadence of them. “Ash.”

“Larkspur, Coal is going to take your watch tonight.”

Coal gave a grunt. “I am?”

“Yes, we’re short on numbers, you know that.” Ash stepped into view, his honey-colored eyes glowing in the dim light like some large jungle cat. “I need Larkspur to come with me.”

“Is something wrong?” I scrambled down the edge of the roof, fear clutching at me. The tone in Ash’s voice told me that whatever it was, it was serious.

“No, but you need to come with me.” He turned and walked away before I could ask any more questions.

I glanced up at Coal, who shrugged. “He’s the boss.”

And that was the truth. Ash was the boss now, my father had asked him officially to take over the Enders. To train those who would come to be one of our family’s ultimate protectors. After the clean up, several of the Edge guards offered to step in, to train. We were up in numbers, but with only one actual Ender to deal with all the problems that cropped up, life would get tough very quickly for Ash. But not Coal, with his missing arm he was lucky to still be an Edge guard. And he knew it.

Ash strode out, taking me to the Spiral of all places. “What’s wrong, is it my father?”

He shook his head. “No one is in trouble, Lark. Relax.”

The tension in my shoulders faded, but only a minuscule amount. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who gets blamed for pretty much everything.”

I rubbed at my bare arms, the leather vest not quite warm enough for this late in the summer. Since everything had gone down, it seemed like I was in trouble every day. First, was the ambassador from the Pit.