She nodded quickly.
Véa pecked her cheek, lowered her to the ground, and turned to Luna as the toddler ran past me.
Confusion shone through Luna’s blue eyes. “You don’t want the babies to hear.”
“No. And you won’t either.”
Lapsus landed a few feet away with those of us who remained from our camp. I looked around, doing a head count.
Lapsus, Elira, Drogo, Anise, Sanvi, Errol, Eike, Volke, Venark, Hana, Osonia, Asher, Neia, Araton, Emja, Larson, Luna, Rion, Cere, Stella, Medica, Hya, El—my pa, and Brynn—Vea’s mum.
Everyone was here. Everyone who helped create the souls and find refuge on this world.
“Alright,” I said to Véa, resting a hand on her back, “we’re all here. What’s this about, mi lim?”
She took a look around, swallowing. “You may want to take a seat, everyone.”
* * *
If anyone else had just said all of that, I wouldn’t believe it.
I still wasn’t sure I did.
“How could that be possible?” Eike asked, pulling his copper hair from his face and grabbing a fistful at the back. “How is Lux strong enough to accomplish that?”
“I think most of us are strong enough to accomplish that,” Neia murmured, pulling her yellow robe in tightly at her waist. “I could, if I wanted to. So could Véa, and Larson, and Brynn, and Osonia. None of us are weak, and if we wanted a world destroyed, single handedly, each of us could.”
“Most of us have a conscience though,” Venark said under his breath.
Normally, Hana would’ve served him a dirty look for that. This time, she didn’t even look up.
“He came here to tell you this?” Pa asked Véa.
“Aye.” She wiped the corner of her eye, now red and chafing, aching through my own. “He said I was reasonable, and I would listen.”
“And all you have is his word?” Brynn asked.
Véa shook her head, shaking fingers holding out the jewel. “It’s sitting on a mantel in the queen’s chamber. You can see the damage from outside the window.”
I stood, shaking my head. “That’s not enough.”
“What?” Véa asked. “I didn’t make this up, Nix. I—”
“I’m not saying you did.” I walked to her, leaned down, and kissed her forehead. “But I can’t believe he killedeveryone. Maybe people retreated into their homes, and hid in closets, or ran underground, but—”
“You need to see it to understand.” The voice came from around the house. We had quite a group here, but I knew each of their voices, and that one didn’t belong to any of them.
Usui rounded the corner, but it took a moment before I recognized her. She’d always been on the plumper side, yet she was incredibly thin now. Never had I seen her tight curls unstyled—whether it be in locs, a puff, braids, or an afro—but it looked like she hadn’t had access to a comb in months. Her cheeks hollowed into her mouth, and even with the heavy fur she wore, I could still make out every inch of her clavicle.
“There are survivors. Not many, but there are. I would like to help you bring them here.”
“Bring them here?” Osonia asked. “We could send healers, and—”
“You won’t understand until you see it.” Her voice sharpened, softening when she turned to me. “And it is so much worse than you are imagining, Nix.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Emja stepped up, shoulders squaring, fire in her tone. “Why did you hide—”
“I hidnothing,” she snapped, eyes growing to discs. “The deals all went on beneath my nose. I had no idea what they were planning until three months ago, and when I figured it out, when I was preparing a message for you all, they kidnapped me and locked me in the caverns. And I will admit my failure for allowing that, but I wouldneverbarter with the maalaichte cnihme, so watch the way you speak to me, little girl.”