“Who was the father?” Jonas asked. He didn’t want to feel sorry for what she’d been through or allow the catch in her voice to move him.

“An exiled immortal.”

“And you say he’s dead.”

She nodded once.

“How did he die?” Jonas asked. “Did you kill him?”

Lucia was silent for so long that he didn’t think she’d answer. “No. He took his own life.”

“Interesting. Is that the only way to escape from your dark clutches?”

Lucia’s look of sheer hatred made him flinch. But the look was more than that. Her eyes were pink-rimmed, a mixture of exhaustion and sadness.

“Apologies,” Jonas said before he had a chance to think about his response. “I suppose that was unnecessarily harsh.”

“It was. But I’d expect no less from someone who thinks I’m sheer evil. What Kyan did to your friend . . .”

“Lysandra,” he choked out. “She was incredible: the bravest and strongest girl I’ve ever known. She deserved the life that Kyan stole from her without a second of hesitation. He was aiming for me—I’m the one who should have died that day, not her.”

She nodded sadly. “I’m so sorry. I’ve come to realize that Kyan isn’t a person, isn’t someone with feelings and needs like mortals have, and he isn’t someone who can be reasoned with. Kyan sees every fault and imperfection in this world. He wishes to be the one to burn it to ashes so it can begin again. I’d say that he’s insane, but he is fire. Fire burns. It destroys. That is its reason for existing.”

“He wants to destroy the world,” Jonas repeated.

She nodded. “It’s why I left him. Why he nearly killed me when I said I wouldn’t help him anymore.”

Jonas took a moment to absorb this. “You say fire destroys. But fire also cooks food, it warms us on cold nights. That kind of fire isn’t evil—it’s an element we use to keep us alive.”

“All I know for sure is that he needs to be stopped.” She reached into the pocket of her cloak and drew out a small amber orb, the exact same size as the earth Kindred. “This was Kyan’s prison.”

Jonas found himself momentarily speechless. “And you think you can put him back in there and save the world?”

“I plan to try,” she said simply.

He looked at Lucia’s face, determined and serious as she gazed at the crystal orb. She sounded so sincere. Could he believe her? “Given what I now know about the fire Kindred, the empress doesn’t seem like much of a threat at all, does she?”

Lucia slipped the orb back into her pocket. “Oh, Amara has definitely shown herself to be a threat. But Kyan is far worse. So think me evil, rebel. Consider me someone who needs to die for my crimes. Fine. But know also that I want to try to fix some of what I’ve done, now that I’m able to think clearly again. First, I need to see my family. I need to—” Lucia’s words cut off as she doubled over and cried out.

Jonas rushed to her side. “What’s wrong?”

“Pain!” she managed. “This had been happening far too often since I left. Oh . . . oh, goddess! I can’t . . .”

She dropped to her knees, clutching her belly.

Jonas stared at her, feeling completely helpless. “Damn it. What can I do? Is the baby coming already? Please don’t tell me the baby is coming.”

“No, it’s not . . . I don’t think it’s time yet. But this—” When she screamed, the sound sliced through Jonas like a cold blade. “Take me to my family! Please!”

The princess’s face had gone stark white against her raven-black hair. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she dropped to her side, unconscious.

“Princess,” he said, trying to shake her awake. “Come on, there’s no time for this.”

Lucia didn’t wake up.

Jonas turned to look in the direction of the riots. It wouldn’t be long before the Paelsian mob found weapons and came after him and the sorceress.

Finally, swearing under his breath, he crouched down and picked the princess up in his arms, finding her much lighter than he’d expected, even with the child she carried within her.

“No time to get to your family,” he said, “so I’m taking you to mine. They’re much closer.”

• • •

Jonas’s sister, Felicia, opened the door to her cottage and stared out at Jonas for a long moment in utter silence.

Then she looked at the unconscious, pregnant girl he carried in his arms.

“I can explain,” he said quickly.

“I would certainly hope so. Come in.” She opened the door wider so Jonas could enter, careful not to knock Lucia’s legs against the rough door frame.

“Put her on my bed,” Felicia instructed Jonas. He did as she said before returning to his sister, who didn’t greet him with a hug. Instead she stood there, her expression drawn and severe, her arms crossed over her chest.

He didn’t expect her to be happy to see him.

“I’m sorry I haven’t visited,” he began.

“I haven’t seen or heard from you in nearly a year, and you show up tonight with no warning.”

“I needed your help. With . . . the girl.”

She snorted. “Yes, I’m sure you do. Is the child yours?”

“No.”

She didn’t look convinced. “And what do you expect me to do for her?”