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while my sisters weave the fabric of destiny, while we keep watch over the order of things. But if we are defeated, he will rise, and he will bring total destruction in his wake. The bombings here in Boston over the last week would be just a tiny ripple compared to what he would inflict. Cities and countries would fall. Civilization would collapse. No one would be safe.”
    Aislin’s stomach churned. “And us?”
    “You could not hope to maintain your grip on power, not that it would matter anyway. If I perish, the Kere will be subject to the will of the first being to seize their souls. They could fall into the hands of the enemy.”
    “You said you had safeguarded their souls.”
    “I have done what I can, Aislin, but I am not all-powerful.” For a moment, his face fell, and Aislin read the desolation in his unfocused stare.
    She had the urge to kneel beside him and smooth his worry lines with her fingertip. The sensation was so sudden, so compelling, that it pulled her to the edge of her seat before she managed to stop herself. “Are you all right, Jason?” she asked quietly.
    He turned from the window. “Am I . . . all right ?”
    She could feel the blush creeping up from her chest, threatening to stain her pale skin. “I-I just meant, well, since the fabric is unraveling, I wondered if you felt it. If it made you feel sick, or weak.”
    “Oh.” He was silent just long enough to make her heart pound. “I am as strong as I need to be, as always.” His cockiness disrupted whatever moment they might have shared.
    “What do you propose we do next?” she asked. “We have seventy-two hours until our summit with the Keepers, my board is in rebellion, and your sister and my brother are off somewhere plotting to bring us down. Now might be the time to try to acquire that ancient weapon you mentioned.”
    He smiled, and it made her breath catch. It wasn’t the calculating smile he so often wore, or the mocking one that made her blood boil. This was open and shocking in its beauty. “You make it sound very simple.”
    “If I focus on the magnitude of what we’re facing, I’ll collapse under its weight,” she admitted.
    His smile disappeared. “I believe I know what you mean.” He was silent for a second, peering at her across the distance between them. Once again, Aislin wanted to reach out, to risk the fear that he wouldn’t reach back, simply because it felt so truthful.
    You can’t understand him, her father had told her once. He’s beyond us. But he reveals his character in his actions, if you take the time to look.
    She was looking now. And having trouble looking away. “I’ve frozen Rylan’s funds, for what it’s worth. And I tried to warn the board of what he’s become, in case he visits any of them.”
    “They don’t hold the power, so they won’t hold his interest. Make sure your personal security detail is alert, though, hmm?”
    “I already have.”
    He stood up. “Well, I have a little errand to run. But first I need to check in with my sisters.” He moved toward her, getting close enough for the temperature around her to rise. “Aislin, I believe Eris is not the only one of my siblings working against me. Apate—lies—and Nemesis—vengeance—are probably helping her.”
    “I’m sorry.” She knew the sting of family betrayal.
    “We’ve been playing defense since the beginning of this fight, and it’s time to start playing offense.”
    “Agreed. What do you need me to do?”
    “Decide which of your Ferrys you trust. Tell them what is happening and warn them of Rylan’s betrayal. Have them keep you apprised of any unusual behavior from my Kere and let me know immediately if you have news. And do what you do best, my dear.”
    Her eyebrows rose.
    He leaned forward. “Vanquish your enemies.”
    Aislin’s heart skipped. He was right. She had a coalition to form and board members to corral. “I’ll see to it.”
    His grin returned as he offered his hand.