Calliope knew Uriah wasn''t wrong. That didn''t keep her from kicking him hard in the shin, then—before he could recover-pping him across the face, sharp and fast.


    "That p is from Portia, and the kick''s from me. Think of it as an advance payment," she said, her voice icy. "We''ll deal with the rest once Mavis pulls through."


    "If she doesn''t, then you''d better be ready to keep herpany."


    Her expression was frigid, all business, all fury. She told Uriah to lead the way and fill her in on every detail, especially about Mavis''s current state.


    "The bullet''s still inside her," Uriah admitted, voice tight. "She took three-two were removed, but the third''s lodged too close to her heart. My doctors wouldn''t risk it, they''re not confident enough to operate. And... there are signs the bullet might have beenced with a toxin. There''s severe sepsis setting in, too. There''s some infection too."


    "I''ve done everything I can, given her the best care possible, but my team just isn''t skilled enough, and she''s too weak to move. I was afraid she wouldn''t survive the journey if we tried, so I had no choice but to call you here."


    Calliope shot him a lethal re. "You wait until now to tell me? There''s still a bullet, and she''s been poisoned? Why didn''t you mention this earlier?" She almostughed -but it was all anger.


    "We didn''t know at first," Uriah stammered. "I didn''t want to weigh you down with more than you could handle—or put a target on your back."


    He hesitated, then asked, "Didn''t Sse with you? Was your trip here alright?"


    "It was a nightmare," Calliope answered coldly. "My team''s somewhere behind me, I don''t even know if they''re safe. You''d better send your people to rendezvous with mine. Ss had his hands full, I couldn''t reach him. I came myself.”


    She''d fought her way in with just three or four by her side.


    At her words, a shiver of dread ran down Uriah''s spine. If Ss ever found out Uriah had called Calliope to a ce like this, unprotected, he''d probably kill him.


    He sucked in a hard breath.


    "I''m sorry. I thought Ss was with you," Uriah said, his brow creased in worry. "Thank God you''re alright."


    "Don''t thank God yet. We have no


    idea if Mavis will even make it!" she shot back. "I can''t save everyone. My


    grandfather sky friends, couldn''t


    Save the Don''t ask me to take


    another life on my conscience."


    Calliope was doing everything she could to keep herposure. Just thinking of her grandfather made her eyes bum She was scared scared she''d fail Mavis too but they were out of options, and she was the only hope left, so she forced herself to hold it together.


    Uriah stayed silent. He wasn''t sure she could save Mavis either. She was theirst, best shot, but he had no guarantees.


    His team was at their limit. All he could do was pray Calliope''s reputation was deserved—that she could do the impossible. Otherwise, he didn''t think he''d ever forgive himself.


    Not that it mattered-whether Mavis pulled through or not, he knew some things would always haunt him.


    Soon enough, they reached the room where Mavisy. Several doctors stood clustered by the bed helpless and anxious. Mavis was hooked up to a web of monitors, her clothes stiff with blood they hadn''t managed to clean away.