Kaia's POV

Standing here is different.

I thought I had braced myself enough for this. But I was only lying to myself.

The coven's ruins are more than I ever imagined. There are still skulls, charred, lying on the ground. A trickle of tears slipped away from my eye.

I didn't want to cry now, not when everyone was near. For now, I knew I had to be strong, finalize learning the ritual, and…

That was the hardest part.

I hadn't told Lyra what the ritual would do to her…to us. I had thought about telling her because she deserved to know, but right now, all I felt was anger....