“We’re so proud of you!” they shouted in unison, stretching out their arms like they wanted to hug her.

By the time she’d fought her way through the crowd, they were gone.

* * *

“If this is how I’m going to have to dress all the time, I’m definitely passing on the Regent appointment,” Sophie grumbled, trying to lift her dark blue gown as she walked—but there were so many tiers of tulle, she couldn’t find the right layer of fabric to grab. It would only be a matter of time before her much-too-narrow heels caught on the hem and she ended up sprawled across the shimmering sidewalk.

Sure, the gown was also gorgeous. The skirt had an ombré effect that made it look like wisps of twilight were floating around her, and the waist was dotted with dozens of tiny diamond stars—the same stars that decorated the halter neckline and sparkled along the edges of her gloves. More diamonds formed a glittering galaxy across the velvet cape covering her shoulders. And Vertina—the tiny talking face programmed into her spectral mirror—had even managed to convince Sophie to brush a little smoky powder across her eyelids and tie back the front part of her hair with strands of silver tinsel.

But Sophie would never not be annoyed that she’d had to play Pretty Princess Dress-Up when she could’ve used the time to update her friends about Tam, or to check in with Keefe about his memories.

Plus, leggings, boots, and tunics were so much more comfortable.

“How much farther do we have to walk?” she asked, wishing Sandor would move a little slower so she could hide behind his massive muscles. Eternalia wasn’t as bustling of a city as Atlantis, but there were still plenty of people staring as she followed Grady down a street lined with enormous jeweled buildings.

Bo, Flori, and Edaline hadn’t been invited to join them.

“Just a few more blocks,” Grady promised, looking particularly regal in his burgundy jerkin with silver leaf embroidery, starched gray trousers, and smoky gray cape.

Their leap had brought them to the glassy river that divided the main city from the twelve identical crystal castles that served as the Councillors’ offices, and they’d spent the majority of their walk on a meandering path along the shore, bathed in the shade of the towering palmlike trees called “the Pures.” But now they’d headed into a section that was more like the capital’s “downtown”—nothing but wall-to-wall sparkly buildings for block after block. And each street was a mix of before and after. The solid-colored buildings built from bricks of a single gemstone were the “originals” that had survived Fintan’s Everblaze attack. The newer replacement buildings were elaborate, multicolored jeweled mosaics.

Either way, the wealth on display was staggering.

Sophie had only been to Eternalia a few times, and most of those visits had involved dramatic, life-changing rulings from the Council, so she found herself huffing out a sigh of relief once they’d passed the emerald walls of Tribunal Hall—one of the few buildings that had been rebuilt to look exactly the way it had looked before: huge and green and intimidating. But her chest tightened back up when she realized their path was heading toward one of the largest structures in the city: a sprawling diamond palace framed by four domed towers.

The building glittered so brightly in the midday sunlight that Sophie had to shield her eyes as they drew closer. If Ro had been there, she would’ve called it “sparkle overload.” And honestly? She would’ve been right.

“This is the Seat of Eminence,” Grady explained as they made their way up the palace’s wide diamond steps. “Think of it as the hub of the nobility.” He pressed his palm against the rectangular door, which looked like it had been made from threads of gold and silver woven together. “Only Regents, Emissaries, and Mentors may enter. But the Council has granted you early access today since they’re offering you an appointment.”

He leaned in to lick the DNA sensor that appeared next to his thumb, and Sophie’s insides squirmed as the doors swung inward to reveal…

… a whole lot of darkness.

She might’ve been staring into an unlit foyer. Or a corridor. Or a dungeon. There was no way to tell.

“Where does all of the light go?” she asked, trailing her hand over the outer wall, which was sparkly and clear and should’ve been flooding the interior with sunshine.

“The diamonds are cut with a specific pattern of facets that reflects all of the light away. It’s one of the ways the Seat of Eminence remains untouched by any outside force or influence. The palace is also a place of peace, where even the Councillors’ own bodyguards aren’t meant to follow—but they’ve made an exception for Sandor because they want you to feel safe. Their only requirement is that your weapons must remain stowed,” he warned as Sandor pushed past them to take the lead.

“Places of peace are generally the most vulnerable,” Sandor countered, gripping the hilt of his sword. But he kept the blade sheathed when he strode through the doorway.

Sophie expected his body to be swallowed by the shadows, but as soon as Sandor crossed the threshold, a thread of fuzzy grayish light flared around him, forming a spotlight that looked like he was standing in the center of a glowing lasso.

A similar light coiled around Grady when he followed—except his glow was orange.

Sophie’s was vivid red.

“Do the colors mean something?” she asked when she noticed the way Grady was studying her.

He nodded. “Different talents flare in different shades. And given your multiple abilities, I’d assumed your light would be nearly white, from the spectrum blending together. Or if one ability was going to dominate, I’d figured you’d glow blue, like the other Telepaths.”

“Which ability is red?” she asked, even though she was pretty sure she could guess.

“I think it’s inflicting—but the Councillors always glow silver when they’re here, to ensure they present as equals, so I’ve never seen what shade Bronte would flare on his own.”

Sophie sighed.

She wasn’t a huge fan of her inflicting ability, given how intense the power was—and how impossible it was to control. And it definitely didn’t help that now it made her look like some sort of possessed girl from a human horror movie.

“Come on, kiddo,” Grady said, hooking an arm around her shoulders. “The Council’s waiting.”

Sandor kept his place in the lead, and Sophie had no idea how he knew which way to go. Even with their strange spotlights, the darkness remained so thick that she couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of her in any direction.

“Not saying I don’t appreciate the ominous aesthetic they have going on here,” she said after several minutes of walking. “But isn’t this kind of a waste of space?”

Also a waste of time—but she stopped herself from saying that in case the Council was somehow listening. This process was already taking much longer than she’d wanted, and it technically hadn’t even started yet.

“The design is meant to ensure that by the time we reach the main chambers, we’ve cleared our minds of everything except the reason we’re here,” Grady explained—which she was absolutely failing at. “Serving in the nobility means disconnecting from your daily life and fully immersing yourself in your duties to the Council. I realize that may be extra challenging for you,” he added, obviously knowing her way too well. “You’re carrying a ton of truly daunting responsibilities—more than I probably know about. But try to remember that what we’re here to discuss could help with some of those problems—if you decide you feel comfortable accepting the appointment, that is.”