There was pain, and there was torture. There was death, and there was loss. And there was justice…and then there was despair. Amaris had listened to the dream visitor’s story, as if it were a gospel told by the mouths of the Five themselves. He listened, and he wept, and he felt the ache in his chest gape so violently wide that he could not believe what it was that he was hearing.

The dream visitor, in all of its encouragement, had been the reason their world was torn asunder. He had left behind his brother, left behind his own blood to be tortured and held prisoner by the mutated wolves he feared. He had stolen away to the great tree, in which Amaris had been so wonderfully birthed, to embrace his lover while his brother waited in desperation for their return.

How could he—

His jaw gaped open, and though questions riddled his brain, his world twisted in a collection of thoughts he never thought he’d have until doors opened before him. The runes that they had all painstakingly searched for reappeared and created three portals, the dream visitor announced.

One for healing.

One to protect the tree that meant so much to him.

And the last one, to free or kill the wolf who had started it all. Whose pain was actively tearing apart the world. Whose imprisonment was the result of his brother’s lack of loyalty.

Amaris stared at the apparition before him, eyes narrowing in disappointment as he stepped through that third door without a second thought.

His brother had never deserved to go through the pain he was now suffering.

And if Amaris could change that, he would.

Although when he entered that moving portal and his paws landed before a wailing and bound man, he hesitated. He could enact the mercy the wolf deserved, to kill him and end his suffering right then and there. Or, he could free him as his brother had never done, and hope that the bound prisoner’s anger would not redirect toward him.

Amaris could be many things, but a killer, he was not.

And that much was solidified in truth as he glanced at his paws, at his nails that could’ve clawed at the flesh of an immovable target.

It wouldn’t be fair.

But what had really solidified his choice in the end was not his own knowing of who Amaris was and could ultimately be—it was the sight of his mother, Valeska, ripping desperately at the chains that bound the prisoner to the earth.

MOM! He called out, shocked that his mother would have chosen this door at all. What in the name of the Five was she doing here?

She could…she could die!

The dream visitor had alluded to as much in their cryptic narration. And while it was okay for Amaris to be here, he was young and agile; his mother had only just cheated death through the attempted murder by her wife. She deserved to be back at home, asleep and safe, within the respite.

Not…Not…playing chess with her life.

Amaris raced toward her, Mom, what are you doing here? He panted in desperation as he held back the quiver that wished to control his words. He had not felt fear before, but now, it was all Amaris could feel.

He did not wish to see her go.

And if that meant freeing the imprisoned wolf and shielding her from any impending doom that might come her way, then that was what Amaris would have to do.

He settled beside his mother, beside Glitch, and beside…Was that Lily?

—Lily? He breathed, eyes blown wide as he blinked in confusion—in shock—at her very presence, What are you doing here?

He never thought he’d see her again.

Now, he was going to save two women he cared for deeply.

Fuck. He mumbled.

Okay, they were saving the wolf. There was no other choice.

We heave on three, he called out through the pulsing radiance of the thrumming and corrupted magic. One… he said as he wrapped his teeth around the wrought iron, Two… He steadied his legs, blinking back what ghostly tears wished to slip down his cheeks. Three! He heaved with all his might, hoping that their force together could break the chains and free the wolf bound before them.

And he hoped, with everything good inside him, that those he cared about would survive this endeavor.