XXXXIII

T he blade came thundering down toward Stella's chest without further hesitation. At the same time, Raphael thrust the cane out before him. A torrent of foreign words crossed his tongue, compelled by Anubis.

An instant later, a startling crack rebounded around the room and flames erupted spontaneously along the pentagram's invisible shield. The eruption of fire blinded Raphael and drew a cry from his sister within its walls.

When the flames abated several seconds later, he drew in a sharp breath.

Layla had been thrown off Stella and was laid flat out on her back on the other side of the pentagram. Burn marks scarred her skin and left her clothes tattered and smoking in several places. Her eyes remained closed, but her chest was moving. Raphael stumbled forward in shock, the cane dropping from his hand.

His gaze shifted as Stella let out a small groan. Without a second thought, he rushed to her side and fell to his knees.

"It's all right. I've got you." His hands rushed to undo the tape at her wrists. The heat of his magic helped to melt and then tear them from her. "Hold still while I do this one," he instructed as he reached for her head. Stella batted his hands away and gestured toward her feet, her own going for the tape wrapped around her head.

They worked as quickly as their shaking hands would allow.

"Everything's going to be all right," Raphael said, unable to ignore the way Stella's body trembled. "I'm almost done, just give me a—"

Sudden panic slammed into him that was not his own, and then his sister's rage-filled battle cry split the room.

Raphael moved on instinct alone. He rose and spun on the balls of his feet, meeting his sister's charge in a single stride to catch her wrist as it came down in a killing arc. He used her momentum against her, twisting her wrist in such a way that she would drop the blade and do no harm. Raphael caught Layla's eye as he fluidly began to execute the move when an immediate sense of dread struck him.

Dread not of his sister's making, but one of knowing with startling certainty when you've fallen into someone else's trap.

Layla moved too easily with Raphael's movements, countering it with just enough force at the last second that the knife didn't tumble out of her hand, but made a home in her stomach.

"No!" Raphael shouted in horror, releasing her too late.

Layla smiled at him grimly and shoved the knife into herself further.

"No!" he shouted again as she collapsed.

Raphael caught her in his arms, letting her sink against him as he brought them to the floor. Angry tears clouded his vision as he looked between the blade and her face.

"Why? Why would you do this? You're not allowed to leave, Layla. Do you understand me? You have to stay. You have to fight ." Overwhelming hysteria put his nervous system into overdrive as her blood began to stain his clothes and the skin beneath. "We're going to get out of here, but you have to hold on until we get to safety. Okay?"

The dread and sorrow that normally clung to her irises dissipated before his eyes. Layla coughed weakly. A spray of red left a fine mist of itself across her scorched face. Raphael cried unabashedly as he tried to wipe it away, his heart breaking as she flinched away from his touch.

"It's better this way," she spoke hoarsely. "I'll never be sad again."

A shudder went through Raphael's body at Layla's tremulous smile. "Please don't do this."

Her smile fell and her chin trembled. "I'm scared," she whispered, and her voice sounded as tremulous as it had the first time she was dying. "Where will I go?"

"You're an angel," he told her fiercely as if her question was the greatest heresy ever spoken. "You'll go straight to heaven."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Her hand rose to touch his face, but halfway in its journey, fell limply to the floor. Lifeless. Raphael held his breath as the light in her eyes blew out.

Snuffed out as quick as a candle.

Raphael pulled her body close and cried. Injustice boiled inside of him. This wasn't the ending she deserved, not after the life they had been dealt. Maybe if he—

A hand fell lightly on his shoulder and Stella said quietly, "Raphael… I'm so sorry, but I don't know how much longer we can stay here."

He twisted his head to look at her. "I know," he managed to say. "I just—"

His gaze returned to Layla. Her features were relaxed, eyes open and unseeing, but somehow peaceful all the same. It was the most peaceful he had ever seen her. Raphael steadied himself with a deep breath, then lowered Layla to the floor. With care, he pulled the knife from her stomach and launched it to the side. Then he arranged her hands over the wound, one atop the other, before guiding her eyelids shut.

"I think you would have liked her before she became this," Raphael said, lingering at Layla's side.

"I'd like to know more about her."

Raphael nodded. His fingers brushed the hair away from Layla's face, smoothing it down in a final attempt to soften her ragged appearance. He didn't expect his hands to run over two twin bumps on the side of her head. Raphael's breath caught. He didn't know what to feel as his eyes welled with tears all over again.

Pity that she never got to relish in the birth of her horns.

Sorrow that her plan worked.

Resignation filled him. Raphael placed a kiss on her forehead and stood. "You're right. We should go."

"How?" Stella asked. "Someone's bound to find us before we get out."

Raphael walked over to his forgotten cane and picked it up, Stella following behind. The jackal's head was still extraordinarily hot, but it didn't burn. Words bubbled up inside him. He let them fall off his tongue in a voice that felt low and dangerous. He rapped the cane against the floor three times and the candles in the room flared to unnatural heights. Several caught on the ornate wall hangings. Stella gasped and stood closer to him.

Raphael surveyed his work for a moment in silence, watching as the flames ate up the banners and spread to the ceiling.

"Don't worry, love." Raphael held out his hand to Stella. She took it eagerly. "I think we can find a way out unscathed… Anubis permitting."

"I think I'm going to be sick," Stella muttered clutching her stomach as they somehow appeared before the Vranas' front door in a cloud of smoke.

"You're not the only one."

Stella stared at Raphael. He looked terrible. Face drawn, he sported a flatness to his eyes that echoed in their bond. She squeezed his hand and watched as he pulled himself out of whatever faraway place he'd been in and back to reality.

"I'm sorry."

Raphael closed his eyes and pulled her into his body for a tight hug. His lips pressed against the top of her head, holding them together for a long moment as wave after wave of sadness passed back and forth between them.

"Me too," he replied roughly before pulling back. He sniffed once or twice, releasing her to wipe his face. Raphael cleared his throat. "Shall we?"

She wanted to offer him more comfort but knew he was gently closing his side of the bond to mask how far his pain went.

"We don't have to."

"There's nothing more I want to do right now than hide away in your bed—or mine, as it is substantially larger." Stella rolled her eyes, and the side of Raphael's mouth quirked. "But it's not safe to linger out in public. Your room and mine are both down several flights and traveling as we did doesn't feel like a viable option. I'm tapped, love."

Stella's shoulders sank, even as she nodded along. "Okay then. Well, hopefully, River and Valdora have pulled off the spell by now. Did you end up coming here because of my note?"

A flash of heat curled onto her cheeks as she brought up her deceit. Raphael glanced away, his jaw going tight. A flicker of trepidation lit inside her.

"I, uh, I did end up coming here." Raphael's voice was full of misgivings.

Stella stiffened. "Did it work?"

He caught her eye. "They never went through with the spell while I was there."

"What? Why?"

He sighed, eyes closing for a long moment. "I don't know how to tell you this without hurting you, Stella." Raphael opened his eyes. Sympathy filled them. "Nova, she—"

"She died." Stella finished, her hand going straight to her mouth in shock.

Raphael's brow furrowed. "Yes… how? How did you know that?"

"I—"

Stella couldn't speak the words aloud. They glued themselves to the back of her throat, and no matter how hard she tried to dislodge them, they stayed put. All she could do was stare at Raphael in guilt-laden dismay. I wasn't there for her .

Raphael's gaze softened along with his furrowed brow. "You don't have to say. I'm quite sure I understand, given the nature of your abilities." Stella nodded, blinking away fresh tears. "How long ago did she know, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Weeks," Stella replied brokenly. "She asked me not to say anything." They stood silent in front of each other, neither moving for the door or each other. "How did she…?"

"Jax." Raphael's face contorted as he said it.

"What?" Stella jerked back. "No, that's not possible." She shook her head firmly. "I know he's not in the best space, but he would never hurt Nova. He would never hurt any of the family."

Raphael summoned a grim smile. "Apparently, all my hard work paid off—" his voice caught, and Raphael took a moment to compose himself, dropping the forced smile. "Now I'm responsible for the deaths of two people in one night. That's a record for me."

"Don't say that," Stella snapped her heart beating fast. "You didn't force Jax's hand and make him kill her."

"And Layla?" He questioned quietly. "What about her?"

"You didn't kill her, Raphael."

"I did, technically. My hand was on the handle of the blade right over hers, driving it into—" he stopped himself short and pinned his gaze to the ground. Stella felt sorrow and guilt roil inside him, slipping past his barrier before he shut it completely.

She reached for his hand and intertwined their fingers. "We don't have to talk about that now." He answered with a jerky nod of assent. "Why don't we go in?"

Another nod from Raphael, this one holding an air of surrender. Stella pulled them inside, the door's handle warming pleasantly under her hand. She let it close behind them, bringing them into the front receiving room.

"Hello?" Stella called after finding it empty. "Hell- oh ! Sebastian, hi."

He appeared out of nowhere from the left, a severe and somber look on his face. He looked her over, then dropped his gaze to Raphael. "Found her then?" Raphael's lips formed a firm line as he nodded. Sebastian's gaze flicked back to Stella. The smallest of frowns drew his brows down. "You're hurt? Badly or…"

" We're hurt," Stella corrected. "But we'll be okay. Where is everyone?"

Sebastian's frown deepened. "Deval's with Ruby, she's—" he glanced at Raphael askance.

"He told me about what happened."

"Right," he cleared his throat while sadness sat on the edges of his frown. "Deval's seeing to Ruby's needs. We figured, as her childe, he was the best to comfort her."

"Of course," Stella murmured, following when Sebastian gestured with his chin to where he'd come from and began to walk away.

"Now that things have settled some, River and Valdora are preparing the rest of us for the spell. It's good the two of you are here. Their spell requires some of our energy to pull it off, so the burden doesn't fall solely on River or Valdora, and without Ruby and Deval..."

"We're happy to help," Raphael replied. Gratitude filled Stella and she pressed closer to him.

The room Sebastian led them to wasn't familiar to Stella, even though it dominated almost half of the second floor. The private ballroom was decorated with walls of gilded mirrors and rows of chandeliers. The lights were set low, casting the room in a warm and welcoming ambiance that was a stark contrast to one of the looks passed their way.

Briar's glare would have normally sent Stella running behind the nearest person to hide, but after what they just went through…

She sent Briar a glare of her own.

The vampyré's red lacquered lips thinned, but she said nothing.

"You made it," River said.

"Sorry, we're late."

River smiled softly. Tiredly. "You're both here, and that's what matters. If you two could space yourself out around the circle. Be sure not to disturb the sand. We'll begin shortly."

Stella gave Raphael's hand one last squeeze before taking up space at the back of the circle. Irina already stood in the center, still as a statue with her gaze glued on Jakob's. With new understanding, Stella felt deeply for her soulmark and was warmed at the comfort of its steady presence.

"We might not have the witching hour on our side, but we still have the new moon. We'll use its power to give strength to our spell. As for all of you," River's eyes traveled around the circle, locking briefly with each person—Jakob, Raphael, herself, Sebastian, and Briar—as she spoke. "You'll channel your energy into the circle. Give what you can. Every bit will help."

Stella studied the circle more closely. There was a glimmer of gold in the pearly white sand. She traced the intricate loops and dissecting triangles that wove together on the inside in perfect symmetry, all leading to where Irina stood.

"Will it hurt her?" Jakob's voice was steady, and his expression a study of neutrality, but he couldn't hide the intensity in his eyes for Irina.

River's lips turned down. "It will, but I don't believe it will come close to what you described Jax's siphon doing. Irina will take the potion. After giving it a minute to absorb in her system, I'll activate it and conduct the counter curse. Valdora will act as a conduit and amplifier and with all your energy working in concert, you'll strengthen the circle's stability. You'll keep the magic contained and focused on Irina so that the potion and spell can do their work and purge the curse."

Anticipation rolled through Stella as she glanced around. Jaws were clenched and determination lit every pair of eyes. Even Raphael's. She tried reaching out to him, but his wall remained up. The rejection stung, but Stella knew it wouldn't last forever.

Time would heal his wounds—Stella rolled her shoulders—and she would be there to help. The thought bolstered her, and she turned her attention back to River.

"Let's do this," she said.

River grinned, and Stella saw past the new age that painted her face and back to the girl who first arrived in the court almost a year ago. The spark in her eyes and confidence was no different from then than it was now.

"I couldn't agree more." River moved back several spaces, allowing Valdora to stand as an intermedium between River and the circle. She held a wooden staff that was as tall as her.

Valdora nodded at Irina. Stella held her breath as she watched her toss back the potion. A new rampart of nerves tickled over Stella as a tense quiet enveloped the group waiting for the aforementioned minute to pass.

It went by with surprising speed.

" Acciu verosis tacule.

Vasulum. "

The chandeliers tinkled as a magical breeze swept through the moon. Little hairs all across Stella's body rose to attention. A palpable magical energy weaved through the air like it had a life of its own. A purpose and direction. Stella couldn't shake the vague familiarity of it, but then River was speaking again.

" Zotum cidellus ." The words resonated through the air with authority, even though the volume of River's voice was tempered. Somehow, it surrounded them and filled every crevice of the ballroom.

At the same time, Valdora planted the staff in front of her. A beam of white light shot out of it, towards Irina, the moment the spell dropped from River's lips.

Irina gasped and wobbled but maintained her position in the small circle left for her. More surprising was that Valdora wobbled and gasped too. Stella craned her neck, watching as Valdora steadied herself and the staff before her.

Stella's eyes widened as she caught sight of the glittering particles pouring out from Jakob that were absorbed into the sand. Her gaze darted to Briar and Sebastian. The same light-catching particles drifted from them too into the sand. Not nearly at the level as Jakob, but a generous contribution all the same. Stella glanced to her left. Even a portion came out of Raphael, his contribution a trickling stream compared to the rivers flowing from Briar and Sebastian, and ocean waves careening off Jakob. But it was an offering, nonetheless.

Stella tried to do the same.

It was easier than expected. Irina had always been kind to her. She'd known her aunt Claire when she was the resident banshee, and when Stella came to court, she immediately welcomed her. Stella knew she could always count on Irina to protect her and give her advice. To be there for her.

Which was why being there for her now and projecting her love and hope to her was like breathing air.

" Zotum cidellus ," River repeated and the light from Valdora's staff grew brighter while the chandeliers above dimmed. Irina grunted, this time a foot slipping back to steady herself as the magic increased.

Stella's ears popped as the pressure in the room changed, and a vague lightheadedness hit her. She gave her head a subtle shake, but the off-balance feeling remained.

"That's it, River." Stella peered around Irina again to spy on Valdora. Her features drew together in concentration. "Once more should do it."

Wetting her lips and taking a deep breath, Stella refocused on her task. She watched in satisfaction and amazement as the circle of sand glimmered and glowed. New hope fluttered through her, helping her ignore the strange throbbing making itself known at the back of her skull.

Crack!

Stella startled and her gaze shot to the source of the noise.

The blood drained from her face.

"Everyone keep calm and channel," Valdora ordered with surprising calm, seeing as a large crack appeared in her staff and the beam of magic pouring out from it began to shake. Stella swallowed stiffly and tried to regain her focus, but just as she went to do so, she caught Valdora casting a harried look over her shoulder.

"It can't handle the magic."

The words were almost too quiet for Stella to catch, but the room was so achingly silent her voice carried on the weaving magic. It made it as if Valdora's words had been whispered right into her ears.

"Can we keep going?"

Stella's eyes widened as she forced herself to stand straight. River's response carried across the magic too. She waited with bated breath to hear Valdora's response.

"I don't know." A streak of dread shot through Stella. The focus of her energy fell away as her heartbeat beat in time with the throbbing in her skull. "If my staff breaks, the spell will be rendered useless."

An uneasy tension filled the room. The flow of energy channeling from Stella stuttered and faded as defeat circled the room.

Tears stung her already raw and sore lash line. She didn't know if she could handle another loss. Not of this caliber. Losing Irina meant losing Jakob as well, for they would both go on the run—assuming they could make it out of the castle in what hours remained of the thirty-first. Where would the Vrana household stand without them?

Where would that leave her and Raphael?

The demons would surely be after them, and they needed the Vrana's protection and influence. If they couldn't rely on that, they would be forced to leave too. The very thought soured Stella's stomach.

Leaving felt a lot like losing.

"Let me switch places with you."

Stella's head whipped to the left.

"You can't," Valdora told Raphael.

Glittering particles still ushered from Raphael, the stream slightly more robust than originally, as he put on a grin for Valdora. "I assure you I can." He raised Jax's cane, and Stella's lips parted as the jackal head's ruby eyes flared in testament to his power. "Tell me what you need me to do."

"Valdora, he can't," River exclaimed.

Valdora studied Raphael and the cane with great intensity. "Yes, he can," she said with surprising assurance, sparing River a look over her shoulder. "He has to. This is our best shot now."

The newfound tension and unease leveling the room escalated. Stella glanced around. Sebastian and Briar wore matching dubious expressions, the energy channeling from them waning as their concentration broke. The same as Stella.

"Don't break now," Jakob barked. His glare blazed with indignation first at Briar and Sebastian, then Stella. She rushed to obey, but her cheeks flushed as she channeled only a fraction of what she had before. "And you ."

Everyone's gaze—save Irina whose body remained locked in the white magic's hold—turned to the only conceivable you in the room.

"If you fail—"

"I won't."

Jakob's glare threatened utter destruction. "If you fail—"

"I won't ," Raphael snapped back with equal ferocity. Stella sucked in a sharp breath. "And when I help save her, I'll have earned a place in this household."

For the first time since knowing him, Stella saw Jakob's jaw drop. It closed with a snap a second later. His jaw twitched before saying, "Confident, are you?"

Raphael lifted his chin. Stella read the tension and exhaustion in his body as he faced off with Jakob. She didn't know what he was doing, or how he thought he could take Valdora's place. When they arrived, he'd said he was spent. Stella swallowed thickly.

She didn't like it.

But she wouldn't speak against him.

"A greater game is being played." Raphael winced and gave his head a little shake. Stella wondered if he noticed the way the jackal's eyes flared brighter as he spoke. "We would do well to accept the help being so graciously offered," Raphael continued, though his face stayed in a grimace.

Jakob looked unconvinced.

"Please," Raphael pleaded somewhat tersely. "I can help."