My Fate's lovely face turned upward as she spread her hands. Her brother bowed to her and vanished, but not before also bowing to me.

The familiar presence of Max pressed against my back, his power deep and as vast as ever as Fate whistled a song in the expanding air. When she dropped her empty eyes to mine, she unpursed her lips to smile.

"Well done, my very dear Sydlynn," she said. Her head shifted a fraction, blank gaze over my shoulder. "Oh, my love," she said. ...