The moon was waning, and while Asteria preferred it full as it had been on the night she’d come back, as long as it’s twisted light rained down, tugging and pulling and wreaking havoc on those who came out long after the sun was set, she was pleased to be alive—or as close to it as she had been in a thousand years.

The fortress was nearly complete. It was amazing what could be accomplished in a few weeks’ time if one put the right minions in place. They’d come from near and ...