“I’m not,” she said, her voice low, steady, cutting through the panic in my chest. “Vivian, you’re the only one who can save them. You have something none of them do—magic. They’ll never stand a chance against her without you. Vivian knows they’re coming. She’s already prepared. Only you can stop her.”

I shook my head, backing away. “You ruined my life once,” I hissed. “How can I trust anything you say?”

She didn’t answer with words. Instead, she opened her bag ...