Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

R iding the switchbacks up the mountains of Compass Lake single-file left little room for conversation. Unfortunately for Rose, this left her alone with her thoughts. Her mind spun over and over again on the scene beneath Mount Bury: the surge of power when the Compass Points came together to hold Aterra, the opening of a pit in her stomach, the terror flooding her body as she realized what Luc was doing—just a few moments too late.

Not that she had another solution to their problem. Even now, days later, she couldn’t think of a better way to conclude their standoff with the god. This would be Luc’s saving grace when they were reunited.

He was a reckless idiot, but she could admit they needed his particular brand of recklessness.

Admitting this to herself didn’t stem her worry however—it still rose like the sea’s tides. Throwing himself and their enemy—his father—beyond the veil was…well, she didn’t have the words for how ill-conceived, risky, and generally dangerous his actions were.

Worse still, she’d been unable to connect with him since.

Rose glanced at Carter and Juliette ahead of her. Taking advantage of the quiet moment, she dove into the heart of her magic—again.

While hunting Aterra, the bond between Rose and Luc had evolved differently than hers with the other Compass Points. She could connect with each of them through her magic when required to hold the rogue god. But Luc’s power had taken a more permanent residence—or so she’d thought. The tunnel to his magic had been visible at the bottom of the lake.

Leaving her physical body immobile astride her horse, she searched the familiar lakeshore, looking into the calm waters. That dark tunnel was no longer present. The results of her search hadn’t changed, no matter how often she checked.

His final words before jumping through the hole he’d created between realms replayed in her thoughts day and night. “ Forgive me, Rose. I know you’ll come for me.”

She shook her head. The words had echoed inside her. Rose was no longer sure if they were real or a figment of her imagination. Three days of riding had done nothing to calm any of these thoughts. They left her unsure whether she would strangle him or kiss him when she retrieved him.

And she would retrieve him.

The ache she felt for Luc was a physical thing. Her magic reached for him regularly, as it had on their travels together. The realm beyond the veil must be beyond the reach of even their unique bond. She hadn’t felt his magic or smelled its pine and cinnamon scent since the cavern.

They finally arrived at the top of the switchbacks, where the thin trail unfolded into a sweeping mountain pass. Rose urged her horse forward to catch up with the others.

“Carter,” she said as she pulled her horse into line beside his. “We need to talk.”

The anxiety would continuously gnaw at her in the privacy of her mind, but now was the time to cement their plans. When they descended the other side of the mountain, they’d be returning to Compass Lake.

Carter slowed his horse to match her pace as the familiar eastern edge of the lake came into view. It was evening, but the days were long, and they still had plenty of light for the rest of their ride. Already, the magic of her seat of power tugged at her. Her limbs, weary from over two weeks on the road, felt new life breathed into them with each step of the horse’s hooves toward Norden house. She still couldn’t believe she’d spent ten years away from this feeling—this revitalization of her magic.

“What is it, Rose?” Carter asked.

Juliette also slowed her horse. She’d been in the lead, likely as eager as Rose to return to her seat of power. “Do we need to get our stories straight for our arrival?” she asked in jest.

“Not quite,” Rose replied. She wanted to enjoy this moment. Juliette joked, but a lot was unsaid in her words. The Compass Points had left the lake, barely trusting each other. A newly minted Norden Point, a distrustful Osten, a secretive Vesten, and a Suden with unprecedented power had started a journey two weeks ago. Returning now, they had a different perspective. They’d learned to work together—to share their power to hold a rogue god upsetting the balance on the continent. It was an impressive feat. Yet, they didn’t celebrate, since only three of the four cardinal directions rode together. The fourth point of their compass was noticeably absent.

No matter how much she tried to avoid it, the pit in Rose’s stomach demanded acknowledgment. Even as her magic hummed in anticipation of returning to its source, the pain she’d carefully avoided deepened. There was a vast emptiness inside her where Luc’s magic should be.

That wasn’t quite right. The echo of his magic lingered. The spot his magic had carved out inside her was still there. She could still feel something , but the open tunnel beneath her lake of power—the intimate ability to reach for his magic—was gone.

Now that she knew what it was to have Luc’s magic there, she’d never accept being without it. Not even the call of Norden house could distract her. She shook her head, returning her focus to the Vesten Point and the conversation he’d avoided since they’d tested his ability to share power with Arie.

“Let’s align on our plan,” Rose started. “We agree. We’ll try the Osten portal first. It’s a proven interaction point with Zrak, and we know he is beyond the veil, too.” She glanced at Juliette, who nodded in confirmation. “He owes us some answers.”

Juliette bit her lip as they rode. “As I told you on the ride, he’s never been forthcoming with me, but I agree it is the best place to start.” Bitterness hung from her words. The ritual Juliette had to perform to secure the Osten fae’s magic put her in contact with Zrak regularly. He had plenty of opportunities to tell her…something. His silence on the matter was noted. “We may get more information from him if Arctos and Aurora join us—given their history,” she added.

“I hope they’re only a day or two behind us, but I won’t wait for them,” Rose replied. They’d saved the Norden goddess when they’d confronted Aterra under the mountain. Even if they needed Arie and Aurora to save the continent, Rose wouldn’t begrudge them a day of privacy after hundreds of years of separation.

“I’m not sure about Zrak being more willing to share with them though,” Rose said, trying to ease some of the sting Juliette must feel from the Osten god’s reluctance to tell her about his plans. “Zrak hadn’t told Arie or Aurora that his sacrifice was more of an exile.”

Juliette’s lips remained pressed together as she acknowledged Rose’s words. “Do you have a second plan?” Juliette asked, returning the conversation to their next steps after arriving at Compass Lake.

“Arie would say you sound like Zrak now—with plans upon plans,” Carter pointed out.

Rose’s nose scrunched inadvertently. The more she learned, the less she understood the Osten god’s actions. His sacrifice wasn’t so much his existence as it was his place on the continent. Zrak still meddled from beyond the veil, sending soldiers made of smoke and wind, Nebulus, as harbingers of the disaster to come if Aterra wasn’t stopped. The villages they visited fell to a mist plague—the villagers in a state of endless sleep.

Zrak’s actions felt like random moves on a gameboard. She couldn’t piece together his overarching strategy—maybe he didn’t have one—but Arie said he was a planner. She shook her head again, unsure what to believe about the Lost God. The last thing she wanted to do was emulate him now, but she did have another plan, and she wanted to discuss it while they had privacy.

“We should discuss Carter’s shift,” Rose said. They now had his undivided attention. His shoulders tensed in a way that reminded her of hackles rising, and it told Rose all she needed to know. She was correct in her assumptions.

“Rose…” His voice held a plea, like maybe—if he asked nicely—she wouldn’t utter the ensuing words, the words he believed threatened his existence, though Rose didn’t understand why. She was not in the mood to dance around the topic. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Luc throw himself through the hole between realms. She felt his presence—and his magic—leaving the continent. While she wouldn’t rage at these two about the pain of his loss, neither would she shy away from uncomfortable topics that could help bring Luc back to her.

“We let you off easy at the Lake of the Gods. We had other things to do, namely, fight Aterra,” Rose pressed.

Juliette’s gaze slid between Rose and Carter. Maybe she hadn’t realized what Carter’s reaction to Arie’s shift meant.

“It’s dangerous to discuss,” Carter pleaded again, his voice a whisper.

“Why is that?” Rose asked. She honestly hadn’t recognized the animal for what it was. Juliette had been the one to whisper its name. This was further proof that those on the continent thought the animal extinct.

Carter sighed deeply, running his long fingers through his shaggy brown hair.

“What am I missing?” Juliette asked.

Carter searched the open mountain pass. No one was present for the half-mile ride across. There was arguably nowhere better to reveal his secrets.

“My shifted form is a veil cat,” he said.

“But…” Juliette’s eyes narrowed, and her head tilted as understanding creased her brow.

“They were extinct, yes,” Carter finished the sentence she’d left hanging.

“You both seemed so sure of that,” Rose said. “I didn’t question it, but the stories I remember said the cats ferried the spirits of the dead beyond the veil. Why are you both so sure they’re gone?”

Carter and Juliette shared a conspiratorial glance.

“Oh, great. Are there more secrets of the Compass Points?” Rose asked, rolling her eyes.

“This one wasn’t our fault,” Carter said quickly. He looked much more comfortable now that they were discussing something other than his shifted form. He switched effortlessly into the lecture mode from his time as a researcher. “The Compass Points have access to rare pre-Covenant histories. Veil cats went extinct before the Flood. As you can imagine, few texts from that time survived.”

“Don’t say it like it was a natural occurrence,” Juliette added. “The Lady of the Veil killed them all. She ensured their extinction.”

Carter coughed at Juliette’s brutal phrasing. “Yes, that is what history says.”

Rose opened and closed her mouth, unable to determine what she wanted to ask. If the Lady of the Veil ruled over the spirits in the afterlife, she must require someone or something to shepherd them from the continent.

“Why?” she asked.

“I don’t think we have the full story,” Carter said thoughtfully. “The texts are from a single settlement that survived the Flood. Villagers there indicate she went mad and sealed off her borders.”

“Why do you think that’s incorrect?” Juliette asked. Her features were relaxed, but her gaze held a glint Rose recognized. She was intrigued by Carter’s consideration.

“As Rose pointed out within moments…it doesn’t make sense. Spirits have to arrive for the Lady’s realm to thrive. Why would she destroy the shepherds of her realm’s success? The Veil requires balance, just like the continent.” Carter sighed, running his hand through his hair again.

“I’m impressed,” Juliette said as she reappraised the Vesten Point. “The Compass Points before you gave this story no thought. They accepted she went mad and left it at that.” Juliette tilted her head again. “I’ve always been more curious about her story. Especially the more we learn about the gods’ actions on the continent. I’m convinced something here must have threatened the spirits. That’s the only logical reason for the Lady to seal off her realm. The veil cats were likely collateral damage.”

Carter shivered as he nodded at Juliette’s assessment.

“Look at you two, agreeing,” Rose couldn’t help but say. A part of her may be lost to the realm beyond the veil, but a little piece of her broken heart warmed at Juliette and Carter’s cooperation. She doubted they’d ever been able to speak so freely at past Compass Point meetings.

“We agree that it’s suspicious and likely doesn’t tell the whole story. But we don’t truly know why the veil cats no longer live,” Carter said.

“Well…they do live, right?” Rose said pointedly.

Carter met her gaze. It was rare for the Vesten Point to make eye contact, but this glare felt practiced. “You know that’s not what I meant.” His shoulders rose again as she returned the conversation to his shifted form.

“If you’re the first veil cat in”— Rose did the math—“over five hundred years, how do spirits pass beyond the veil?”

“I just assumed it took them longer to find their way across without a guide,” Carter said. “I think the cats help to shepherd, but I don’t think they’re required for the process.” He paused, deciding whether to continue. Rose was thankful when he did. “I’ve been curious if that’s part of what the Nebulus were doing,” he said. “Maybe Zrak had to serve the Lady of the Veil to reside there. That could be why the mist seems to host a tide of spirits. Maybe he helps guide the spirits beyond the veil.”

“That’s a lot of maybe,” Juliette said.

“True.” Carter shrugged. “We could ask Zrak, of course.” A sly smile crossed Carter’s face. Juliette’s eyes narrowed at the taunt.

Rose turned the conversation back on him. “Can you speak with them? The spirits?”

“Not truly. But…” Carter hesitated, glancing back again at the wide-open expanse of the pass, as if he worried someone had snuck up on them while they spoke. “The power I gained with the Burning Coin. It helps.”

Rose wasn’t surprised. Arie had given Rose the Burning Coin, the Vesten artifact, to help her learn about Vesten magic while they traveled. Instead, she’d given Carter the coin to build trust between them. It had been one of her best decisions with the elusive Vesten Point.

The lake was entirely in view as they reached the other side of the pass. Three familiar manor houses were visible on the shore. The house strategically hidden in the trees—Norden house—pulled Rose’s gaze. The land drew her to it both with its beauty and its power. She’d have to reckon with Norden house tonight. Her last visit to Compass Lake had been spent almost entirely at Suden house. But without Luc present—her throat tightened at the thought.

She wished she were approaching Norden house under better circumstances. How badly she wished Luc could join her at her newly claimed seat. She wanted her partner to celebrate with.

The scene of Luc throwing himself and Aterra through the hole between realms replayed in her head. It stole the air from her lungs. No conversation, not even about the continent’s fate, could distract her for long.

Rose pulled herself from her thoughts. “Helps with what?”

Carter looked relieved to hear her speak again. Her anguish must have been evident on her face, though he and Juliette wisely left her to her emotions.

“I think it helps the spirits see me for what I am. Now that I’ve unlocked that power, they are drawn to me when I shift,” he said.

She swallowed around a lump in her throat as her gaze lingered on Suden house at the lake’s southern shore. They had so much to do, but she needed to see Aaron. Luc’s brother deserved to hear the news from her, no matter how much she longed to avoid it.

Rose tried to rally as she looked between her fellow leaders. “I hope you can see why I bring this up…” She hesitated. This was her second option if Zrak proved unhelpful, but she needed Carter to agree. She sat up straighter in her seat. “If veil cats can ferry spirits beyond the veil, then you”—she nodded at Carter—“need to be our backup plan.”

Carter sighed. “I had a feeling you’d say that.”

“That’s not a yes,” Rose said. She swore she saw Juliette smile out of the corner of her eye as she pressed the Vesten Point for his answer.

“Of course, I’ll try, Rose. But you must know I’ve never done it before.” He scratched the side of his head. “After seeing the space Luc created to cross beyond the veil, I have some ideas, but it will be risky.”

Rose nodded through the punch in the gut she felt whenever Luc’s name was mentioned. Risky wasn’t an issue for her. Carter’s response was the best she could ask for. It was still wise to attempt to get information from Zrak before blindly crossing realms. As both Carter and Juliette said, the borders were closed. History indicated the Lady of the Veil didn’t appreciate visitors. Rose’s heart pounded in her chest as she wondered what it meant for Luc upon his arrival.

“Has everyone shared their secrets now? Is there anything else we need to discuss?” Rose choked out, forcing a change in her thoughts.

Carter looked sheepish, but Juliette met Rose’s gaze head-on.

“You still don’t seem to understand what you’ve done, Rose,” the Osten Point said. “Some of these secrets you pull from us have been buried for hundreds of years—it’s no simple feat to ask if we’re done. It’s as natural as breathing for me to keep things from the Compass Points. Only time and trust will reveal everything.”

So, Rose thought, that was a no, then.