Ellery bristled. “I’m not waging war on the whole country.”
“I don’t think you have to,” Kester said. “We also call Chosen Ones champions, don’t we? A champion doesn’t need to lead an army. They fight on behalf of one. Except now, for the first time, we have two champions. One Summer Chosen One who’s supposed to fight Winter. And you.”
Slowly, insidiously, a despicable understanding took root.
“You want me to fightDom?” Ellery choked.
“You can’t possibly mean that, Kester,” Julian said, aghast.
“I’m not saying I like it,” Kester said gravely. “But it makes sense, doesn’t it?”
It did. All this time, Ellery had insisted she couldn’t be Summer’s traitor. But here she was, being asked to rebel against it. Being asked to fight—no, tokill—Summer’s Chosen.
“No. No, it doesn’t make sense,” Ellery growled. “Maybe the rest of the Order will never support Winter magicians, but Dom will. You don’t know him like I do. He might be playing a part in the news just like I am, but he’s smart and passionate and he cares so much about doing the right thing, about protecting everyone. Dom’s an actual hero. And hewilllisten to me.”
“Shit. You’re not hesitating because of Summer and Winter at all, are you?” Julian narrowed his eyes. “This is abouthim. Ishould’ve seen it earlier. But I was your best friend for five years, and I was a distraction. And it took you, what, a few weeks with Barrow to put destiny on the line for him? What the fuck, El?”
Ellery flinched. When she’d apologized to Julian about their relationship, he’d acted like he’d forgiven her. But he hadn’t.
“Wait, wait, wait,” Kester said. “Are Alderland’s Chosen Twosleeping together?”
“It’s not like that,” Ellery protested, even though it would’ve been easier if it had all been some fling. But the truth was that it didn’t matter that they’d broken up. That she’d lied to Domenic about giving up on Winter wands, that he’d hidden the Council’s suspicions from her.
She was in love with Domenic Barrow anyway.
And if she truly was destined to become Summer’s traitor, then she would fail. Because the only person she could never betray was him.
“Think whatever you want about me. I don’t care.” Ellery tore the aspen pod from Julian’s grasp, then stormed away, leaving behind what could’ve been the only place she truly belonged.
XXXIIIDOMENICWINTER
Going on a walk. Be back soon.
–El
Domenic lay on the mangled hotel carpet, the note crumpled in his fist, counting the passing minutes until his dread felt justifiable.
Finally, he hissed, “Hanna.”
No response.
“Hanna.”
Scowling, Domenic shuffled toward her. She slept like a pill bug, curled up tight on her side. But as he reached for her, he froze. Her eyes shifted beneath her lids, back and forth, back and forth. Sweat gleamed across her brow.
Trembling, he slid aside the covers until he glimpsed her hands: one hugged to her chest, another wedged between her knees. Empty.
He shook her shoulder. Her eyes stilled. She groaned indignantly.
“Ellery’s gone.”
Hanna shot up.“What?”
He passed her the note, now bunched into a ball and slightly damp. She snatched Syarthis from the nightstand, unsheathed it, and squinted into its light.
“Shit.Shit.” Hanna sprang out of bed and scooped up her clothes from yesterday. She hoisted her trousers up beneath her nightgown. “Why are you just standing there?Move. Get dressed.”
“You think something happened to her?”
