The winter eclipse progressed inevitably like a slow, deliberate wound across the sun. The day had finally come.

  From the deck of the airship, Diya watched darkness blanket the world. The sacred elephant and the ramshackle settlement built on its back fell into shadow. Patchwork buildings stacked haphazardly atop one another, and the bridges connecting them, glowed in the hazy glimmer of emerald-tinted lights fueled by the blood of the sacred beast. She was home at last.

  The eclipse had brought a blizzard with it, and now in the darkness, the snowfall looked less like snowflakes and more like ash. Her whole life had led up to this one day. But the thing about preparation is that no amount can truly vanquish self-doubt. She had done everything in her power to prepare herself for her return, and yet, still, the voices in her head questioned whether she could do this.

  Despite her journey taking her further from home than she had ever been, it still felt like minutes when she needed years.

  “Five minutes,” the pilot called. “Then we’ll be in position to land. Hopefully, the darkness works to our advantage, and we don’t get shelled while we touch down in the city.”

  Diya tightened her gloves and turned from the rail.

  Tamsin stood near the center of the deck, white mask lit a fiery orange by the engines, her cloak snapping in the wind. Behind her were forty witches ready to die if it was necessary for the survival of the coven—veterans, hunters, and wardens all. They held swords and spears etched with sigils that glowed faintly as the sun said farewell. They looked ready for war.

  There was an immense sense of relief that they had been able to leave the members of the coven incapable of fighting back aboard the magnificent sacred beast she now knew of as Township Sanglier.

  Diya wasn’t sure if Tamsin had truly made her peace with all that had happened, or if she was simply putting on a brave face for the sake of the coven, but her attitude had become strong and hard. Wearing a mask for the sake of others was something Diya wished her partner didn’t need to do, but she understood the necessity all too well.

  Shikra crouched beside Diya.

  The giant bird’s feathers were slick with frost, her talons digging into the wood of the deck. She was silent, eyes tracking the city below as if to say she was more than prepared to take back their home.

  “This is it,” Diya said. Her voice sounded small against the wind. “Zoralia commences her ritual soon. If she succeeds, Ghanesha dies.”

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  Tamsin stepped forward. “Then we don’t let her.”

  They gathered in a tight circle as the airship began its final descent. Each of the witches seemed to be emboldened by the commanding presence of their chosen one and chief.

  “We split the moment we land,” Diya said. “Tamsin, you take the coven. Your job is to free the prisoners and draw Arjun’s forces away from the ritual site. Keep him distracted as long as possible.”

  Tamsin nodded. “We’ll give them hell.”

  “Good,” Diya said. “Shikra and I go straight for Zoralia at the ritual site.”

  The bird gave a low, thunderous croak.

  Tamsin met Diya’s eyes, and beneath the artificially constructed confidence, there was the very real glint of fear. Fear for her people. Fear for the future. But most of all, fear for Diya. “You come back.”

  Diya didn’t promise. Instead, she reached out and pulled Tamsin close to her so that she could feel the warmth of her body against her own. She nuzzled her cold nose against Tamsin’s neck and kissed her softly, breathing in the moment as long as she possibly could. “You too.”

  The ramp slammed down.

  Cold wind howled into the ship. Tamsin and the witches charged down into the city square. Ghanesha met them with snow and an eerie silence.

  Boots clicked against stone, weapons were raised, and eyes scanned the shadowy buildings and alleys for enemies. Where was everyone?

  Shuttered windows stared out in rigid rows, their paint flaking in the cold like old scabs. Blackblood lanterns burned at fixed intervals, their green-tinted light unnatural and auspicious, casting straight-backed shadows across cobblestones polished smooth by marching boots. Notices of curfew were nailed to every corner post, the paper stiff with frost and authority: By Order of Arjun the All-Knowing. Serpent of the Sky. Bringer of the Future. Father of Fate.

  Diya’s eyebrow raised as she read the shamelessly scribed notices. Good to see he didn’t let all of the power go to his bald head.

  No voices carried. No laughter dared. That’s when they noticed terrified citizens peeking out from their cracked doors. Dozens of reminders of why their mission was so vital.

  Oddly, there were no enemies in sight. No alarms yet. The city felt like it was holding its breath. Where had all of the guards been called to?

  Tamsin raised her sword, commanding her troops. “Move!”

  The coven surged forward, flowing into the streets and alleys like a living tide.

  Diya didn’t look back—no matter how her stomach sank and her heart ached—lingering on the uncertain would do her no good. Instead, she grabbed the leathery reins and swung up onto Shikra’s back in one well-practiced, graceful maneuver. Immediately, they were one. United in their purpose. Shikra took to the air, powerful wingbeats echoing between towers as she flew north towards the sacred beast’s head.

  Diya had spotted the ritual site on their descent, and now she flew forth to meet her fate, camouflaged by the snowfall and darkness.

  The closer they got, the stronger the magic felt. An unexplainable pressure in the air, a low thrumming whirr she could feel in her bones. The air discharged a chemical smell that transported her straight back to the blackblood refinery. From behind them, an alarm bell rang out through the city, thunderous and disconcerting. Without a doubt, she knew that Tamsin and the witches would soon be fighting for their lives.

  Diya narrowed her eyes and focused her thoughts on every last soul who was counting on her. Nodding resolutely, she dipped tighter to Shikra’s feathered back, and the pair zipped through the sky towards their date with destiny.