“Ah, Tower, you should have taken my offer.” My voice was breathier, evil-sounding. “Poison is such a painful way to go.”

Death whispered —Why must you always taunt them so Make a clean kill and be done with it.—

Shut up!

Though Joules appeared horrified, his tone was full of bravado. “Do it, then. What I want is on the other side anyway.”

I leaned my head closer to his, savoring the way my burning glyphs reflected in his terrified eyes. “Come. Touch. But you’ll pay a—” The words strangled in my throat, because I’d caught sight of . . .

Jackson.

He’d come running down a nearby alley, bow at the ready, but froze upon seeing me.

My heart leapt. He hadn’t left us

He took cover behind an old shed not fifty feet away. He wore a hunter’s coat, a hoodie, and fingerless gloves. The straps of his familiar bug-out bag fitted over his broad shoulders. His biker boots had been replaced with hiking boots.

He’d been resupplying before coming back for me! I should’ve had more faith.

Jackson’s lips parted at my appearance. He’d seen the aftermath of my battle with the Alchemist—now he had a front-row seat to an execution.

Execution

This wasn’t me. I wasn’t a killer. Jack hadn’t left us this morning—but I knew if I did this thing now, I would lose him forever. I glanced down at Joules.

No longer did I see the malicious Tower Card. This was just a kid, sweating with fear. I shook my head hard, reining in the fury. Inhale. Exhale. Glance at Jack. Better.

To Joules, I said, “I told you I didn’t want to kill. The only reason I have this marking on my hand is because I had to defend myself. I did everything I could not to harm the Alchemist.”

“Just get this feckin’ over wit’!”

Seeing how much rage Joules had inside him—and an apparent death wish—made me question my offer of alliance. Though I would pass on recruiting this unmerry band today, I would spare them on one condition. . . . “If I release you, will you vow not to hunt us again”

Tess cried, “Make the vow!”

Gabriel called, “Do it, Tower.”

Joules blinked at me. “You’ll spare us”

“This game is different. This time, the Empress isn’t playing. I’ll spare you all.”

Selena, Matthew, and Finn approached, flanking me. A unified front. “None of us are playing.” I gazed up at Selena. “Isn’t that right”