Taylor swallowed hard and squeezed her eyes shut. She did not want to think about what might happen to Everett. She could hear the soft, mournful sound of Amy's sobs. She wished they had never returned to the Obsidian Realm. If they had not come back, Everett might still be safe. This was all her fault.

Eos rose higher in the air and wisps of damp cloud engulfed them. Amy lay huddled against Argyros's neck, her knuckles white as she gripped his mane, and her eyes were tightly ...