Valerie was tempted to skip the long explanations that she owed Henry, Midnight, Dulcea, Kanti, and Cyrus. She didn't have time to waste. But it would be a betrayal to leave them in the dark now, when her reason for secrecy had ended with Jet's life.

So she returned home first and sent Sanguina ahead of her to the Guardians and Knights. Midnight was already at her Guild, so Valerie brought Henry over to the Imaginary Friends' dorm and told them everything.

"You have to understand, I couldn't have lived with myself if I was the reason that Reaper murdered Jet," Valerie choked a little on the words.

"It's okay," Henry said gently.

"You're sorry and you've suffered more than you should ever have to," Kanti agreed.

"You all need to keep me informed on what's going on. It's my job to keep you safe," Dulcea added, her tone motherly.

"No more lying," Cyrus said. It was the first time he had spoken since she began telling her story. "From now on we fight whatever's coming as a team."

"Okay," Valerie said, and Kanti and Henry nodded.

Cyrus shook his head, not satisfied with their responses. "We have to swear it. You especially, Valerie. No more self-sacrifice without telling us first."

"I swear."

"Swear on Pathos," Cyrus said.

Valerie couldn't hide her surprise at his stubbornness. It wasn't like him to be serious for long. But she drew Pathos out of its scabbard and gripped the hilt with the blade facing down.

"I swear on Pathos that we are a team and there will be no lies between us," she said formally.

Cyrus nodded his approval and placed his hand over hers. "I swear, too."

Kanti and Henry echoed his words and put their hands over hers as well. Dulcea smiled at the four friends indulgently, stepping back to let them make their pact. But her eyes widened with surprise when an unexpected hum of magic filled the room. It seemed to radiate from Pathos itself. Tendrils of light weaved out of the sword like threads, binding their hands together.

"Cy, are you doing this?" Valerie whispered. He shook his head. "I didn't think so."

The hum stopped and Cyrus, Henry, and Kanti pulled back.

"Look," Valerie whispered, examining the blade.

Etched into the surface were words and symbols that hadn't been there before, in a language as foreign as the hieroglyphics she'd seen in the Great Pyramid in Egypt.

"Does anyone know what this means?" Kanti asked. They all shook their heads.

Dulcea stepped closer and examined the blade. "It's an old language—one of the original languages that has faded away over the centuries since Conjurors came to the Globe."

"I bet Azra could read it," Cyrus said.

Valerie sheathed Pathos.

"We keep hearing that something big is coming, but this is the first time I've really believed it," Kanti said.

"A battle. And we're going to be in it," Henry agreed, his eyes a little glassy. His mind was open, and Valerie could feel his certainty in what he was saying—and his fear. She saw the face of the girl who had delivered his prophecy, but before she could make sense of the words tumbling from her lips into Henry's ear, his mind abruptly closed to her. No lies, perhaps, but there were still secrets.

"You're still kids. You belong in your Guilds, safe. Not on a battlefield," Dulcea said, but it sounded more like a wish than a command.

"I don't think we're going to have a choice," Valerie said.

"She's right. Clearly the Globe needs a hero, and I'm ready," Cyrus deadpanned. "Now that I have my trusty sidekicks, of course."

His joke worked, breaking the tension as they laughed harder than the quip deserved.

"Let's get to work," Valerie said as their giggles subsided. Her battle with Reaper had put something in motion that wasn't going to end any time soon.

Valerie stopped by Midnight's office at the Guardians' Guild next and confessed the truth about the morning. The Grand Master was utterly still as she listened to the story.

"And Reaper—whoever he truly is—works with Zunya? Then he must be a madman," Midnight said.

"I've no doubt about that," Valerie agreed. "But it's time to fight back. Sanguina has agreed to take us to the Black Castle. We're going to finish this. It's the only way to stop the Excision anyway, like you always said."

Midnight nodded slowly. "With the right group of Knights and a couple of key Grand Masters, this could be a chance to hit the Fractus hard. I'll come with you, of course."

Valerie couldn't hide her relief. "Thank you."

"I wish there was a way to convince you and your friends to stay behind, but I think my words would be wasted," Midnight said, a spark of humor lighting her eyes briefly before vanishing just as quickly. "You're too young to put your lives at stake."

"There isn't another way anymore," Valerie said. Did it made her a coward that part of her wished that she could be a kid and let the adults handle everything?

But she knew that the time for stepping back had passed. She needed to accept that she was involved in—and maybe even leading—this charge. It was the heaviest responsibility she'd ever shouldered.

Valerie hurried to the Knights of Light, expecting to find the Guild in an uproar, but it was surprisingly calm when she arrived. She saw a few apprentices training in the courtyard, but no one seemed to be mobilizing for the mission at hand.

She hurried to Kellen's office, keeping an eye out for Gideon and Chrome along the way. At the thought of Chrome, the box holding her grief and guilt threatened to open and overwhelm her. She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced herself to think about tactics instead.

Kellen's door was shut, and she banged loudly on it.

"It's open!" Kellen called out, clearly annoyed. She turned the handle and rushed in. "Well, what is it?"

"Haven't you heard—didn't Sanguina tell you?" Valerie stuttered.

Kellen's eyes narrowed, and she had a sudden fear that Sanguina had betrayed her after all. "What do you know about Sanguina?"

"She helped save me from Reaper, and she's willing to act as our guide to Dunsinane. We can finally storm the Black Castle and save Darling and Oberon! He's there, too."

Kellen flew close to her. He was much smaller than she, but he suddenly seemed very threatening. "Lies. We knew she had to have someone helping her spy on the Grand Masters. I never would have thought, after everything she did to you and your brother, that it would be you."

"What are you saying?"

"Sanguina is under arrest for treason."

Valerie stumbled back. "It can't be...we need her to help us! We have to get to the Black Castle now, and she's the only one who can guide us there."

"I have reason to believe that Darling isn't a captive in the castle at all, and the rest of her story—and yours—is a lie."

"That isn't true!"

"Relinquish your weapon," Kellen commanded.

"No," Valerie said, backing toward the door. She bumped into something solid. Gideon.

"Do as he says," Gideon commanded.

Shock made her mind cloudy. "You don't believe me?"

"Kellen is our Guild Grand Master and his word is final. Leave Pathos and come with me."

"You heard him," Kellen said in a superior tone.

Valerie wasn't sure she could fight Kellen alone, never mind Kellen and Gideon. Would she have to go to Dunsinane weaponless with only her friends and no guide? Their mission would be doomed before it even began.

Her eyes connected with Gideon's, and she saw a spark there that gave her hope. She did as he said and laid her weapon next to Kellen's tiny desk. Gideon wordlessly escorted her out the door.

He didn't speak until they had walked beneath the arches at the front of the Guild.

"There's no reasoning with Kellen, and the Knights have sworn loyalty to him. We will have to amass what Knights we can to help us in our cause without his knowledge," Gideon explained.

Valerie shut her eyes in relief that her mentor hadn't abandoned her. "Does Chrome know that Jet is gone?"

Gideon's face was still. "Yes. He felt their connection sever."

A burst of grief escaped her box, and she let out a gasp of pain. "Can I see him?"

Gideon laid a hand on her shoulder, and she saw that he had tears in his eyes. "He doesn't blame you—only the Fractus. You will see him soon, but for now he must grieve alone."

Valerie tightened the hatches on her box of pain. "What do we do next? Any ideas on how to break Sanguina out of jail?"

Gideon smiled grimly. "First, you need to rest. You will need all your resources for the trip ahead. Preparations will not happen in a day."

"What are you saying? Every second we wait could be the one that kills Darling or Oberon!"

"If we go forward with half a plan, they will die. If we go forward quickly but with all the resources at our disposal, they may still die. But this way, they have a chance."

Valerie wanted to argue with him, but a sudden, bone-deep weariness that she couldn't deny overcame her. The emotional, mental, and physical toll of the day was wearing on her.

"Okay," she agreed. "I'll meet you at the Guild at dawn."

The vow she had made with her friends was on her mind as she got ready for bed that night. Didn't she owe Thai as much? She had to try to see him and tell him everything.

At least, that's what she told herself. The truth was that she wanted to see his face, hear his voice. It had been the worst day of her life, and he was the only person who could make it a little bit better.

She gripped the charm around her neck, and it brought her to Thai's family's dining table. She had seen it once before when she had visited Thai during her first time on the Globe. He had six siblings—seven if you counted Tan.

His eyes flashed with a strange emotion—dread? He put his finger to his lips, and she knew that he didn't want her to reveal herself to his family yet. He probably wanted to introduce her properly.

Thai excused himself and stepped outside. Once he was alone, Valerie wished with all her heart that she could throw her arms around him. It had been too long since they'd talked, never mind touched.

"I've missed you!" she said, not realizing the depth of her longing until she spoke the words.

Thai cleared his throat and rubbed his neck awkwardly. "Yeah, me too, of course."

"Did you tell your family everything? I see they've met Tan."

A true smile crossed his face. "Yes, it was a huge relief to tell them what's happened. They weren't mad or even that freaked out about it. Midnight came and talked to them as well, and they know I'm in good hands."

"Did you tell them about me? Can I meet them?"

Thai reddened. "About that. I'm not sure it's the best idea."

She couldn't ignore the strange tone in his voice any longer. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I'm considering my options. My parents insist that I finish college before I go to the Globe. It would give me time to decide if that's what I really want. And a scholarship like this, to an American college, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was chosen from a pool of thousands of other students."

Thai's words sounded like gibberish as Valerie struggled to wrap her mind around what he was saying. It was like her brain was trying to protect her from the truth. The pain robbed her of her breath, and she struggled to hide it from him.

"Of course. I can understand why you wouldn't want to leave your family behind. You should absolutely make sure that coming to the Globe is the right decision for you."

"Valerie..."

"I'm surprised, that's all. You never talked like you were considering staying, so I didn't know that was an option. But all I want for you is to be happy."

"Nothing's decided yet," Thai said, and his forehead creased as if he were concentrating very hard on something.

Valerie took a deep breath and tried to release her pain. It was a little conceited to think that Thai would want to leave his whole life behind for her. He had a family who loved him and a bright future. It was good that he was taking the time to make sure of his decision now, rather than regretting it later when it was too late to change his mind. He'd only resent her for it.

"Take as long as you need. I can wait," she said.

He seemed to be fighting an inner battle, but tenderness won out. "I don't deserve you," he said.

"That's ridiculous."

"It isn't. Now what did you have to tell me?"

"Nothing that can't wait," she said. She didn't want to bias his decision by making him fear for her safety. And she also wasn't sure that she could handle being in his presence any longer without showing him how shattered she was.

"I'll visit soon. Give my love to Tan," Valerie said quickly.

"I will," Thai replied, his voice sounding a little rough.

She shut her eyes and opened them back on theGlobe. This time she refused to give in to any tears.