“You tell me,” I say.
“I bring you home and the gang arrives not even twenty-four hours later! If you sent them a message—”
“I ran away from them, remember? You’re the one who spoke with Luna last. Maybe she’s trying to clean her hands of you for good.”
He looks like he wants to throttle me.
“Acolytes approaching,” Zenon says as his glowing eyes flash like twinkling stars. “They’re all armed.” He releases me and aims his own wand at the doorway.
Unless he’s a sharpshooter, I’m our best shot. I take a deep breath, and the familiar gray light washes over me as I transform into Dione. This is the first time the Senator has seen me use my power. I hate that in saving myself I’m also saving him. I step out into the dining room with my shoulders hunched, doing my best to impersonate Dione’s mask of determination when she’s hunting. The acolytes freeze when they see me.
“What are you doing down here?” I bark in Dione’s voice. She’s never patient with the acolytes. “Go upstairs and spread out.”
They follow my orders. This will buy us a minute at most—just until they find Dione laying into Jax. I have to escape before Stanton shows up. If he’s focused on hunting me, my morph won’t mean anything. He’ll be tracking my scent.
“Get to the panic room,” the Senator says as they all come out of the kitchen.
If I’m locked in that room with the Senator, only one of us will come out alive.
“Someone’s coming in,” Zenon says, pointing at a wall without a door.
We’re all confused until my nightmare comes true—Luna and June emerge from the wall holding hands. Luna’s silver hair is dirty, and there’s blood all over the same ceremonial cape she wore the night I got my powers. More bloodstains decorate the stomach of her silky white blouse. If she’s been wounded and is still managing to hold herself upright like this, this must mean she’s won.
She’s unkillable.
Zenon fires multiple spells from his wand but they sail through Luna and June as if they aren’t really there.
Luna’s green eyes study me. “Dione, dear, why haven’t you snapped this fool’s neck?” She’s right. Dione’s allegiance is always to the woman who gave her power when she felt defenseless in the world. “Drop the charade, darling Ness.”
I cross my arms as I revert back to myself.
“Family reunions are so beautiful,” Luna says. “Especially when someone returns from the dead.” She appears distracted for a beat, then pulls herself out of her reverie. “I must say, Senator, this welcome doesn’t feel very welcoming. First we’re greeted with spells, and now no one is even offering us a seat. Get your house in order.”
“Maybe if you’d given us some notice,” the Senator says. “If you’re here for the specter of yours who’s been detained in the Bounds, I cannot advise Bishop to release him under any circumstances. It won’t do well with our supporters.”
Luna waves him away. “I hold no present concerns for Stanton. He’s a soldier who understands the great sacrifices we must make.”
Stanton’s locked up? I don’t even have to know why right now. This is great news.
“Then why are you here?” the Senator asks.
“To discuss our futures. Is the living room this way?” Luna asks as she and dead-eyed June walk past us. “Beautiful dining room, by the way,” she calls over her shoulder, walking through the manor as if she owns it.
Footsteps on the stairs catch my attention. Dione glares at me, four of her arms retreating back into her sides; I clock her bloody fists before they vanish. Jax might be dead.
“Don’t you dare put on my face again,” Dione says to me as she catches up to Luna.
Great. I’ve pissed her off too.
We all gather in the living room, but Dione sends the acolytes to the kitchen. I lean against the fireplace’s mantel, wishing I could shift into a bird and fly out through the chimney. Luna takes a seat in the Senator’s armchair, forcing him to sit on the couch. Zenon seems shifty as he keeps watch on Dione and June.
“I held up my end of the deal, Luna,” the Senator says. “Do you want to explain to me why Eduardo is still alive?”
“If you wanted your son dead, you could’ve gotten your own hands bloody. You still can. By all means.” Luna relaxes into the chair with her hands folded over her knee. “I suspect he’s alive because you recognize the influence his power can have in securing you this election.”
I wave to them. “I’m standing right here. Maybe you can take this discussion about whether or not I should be alive or dead to another room.”
“You’ll be dismissed shortly,” Luna says. “I saved your life when your father sought to make you a martyr. I gave you power and security. Most importantly, I gave you my trust. You betrayed me by divulging my grandest design to the Spell Walkers, and ruined decades of work.” She stops and coughs blood, using the sleeve of her blouse to wipe it from her lips. It’s a beautiful sight; she isn’t unkillable. “I don’t intend to die alone, Ness. For your punishment, you’ll play a role in making sure all of the Spell Walkers go down with me.” She turns to the Senator. “I believe this goal will be of great interest to you as we approach Election Day.”