"He's not done," Sassafras spit, fur standing on end as I re-entered my quarters, Sequoia closing the door behind us. "There's only one reason he would create a second core of magic. He's after First Seat."

Of course he was. We knew that all along. But I never really believed he would succeed before. Now? The real fear he might actually depose me burned like bile in the back of my throat. I stood there in the middle of the room, hands tightly clasped to my chest, heart pounding ...