Sergei’s family had fallen apart - Jupiter and Marigold were dead; Rambaldi was in Ranjord; Mother had flown to Amaya. Sergei wanted a home and a love. He knew his mother needed to move on. Mari’s two sons had been murdered by the dragons; her two daughters were missing. Irina might seek to find them. Sergei would certainly try. They all owed it to his slaughtered half-sister, after all. She was the kind and patient one, the one who tended to every injury. She would have made a good theta.
Wildflower Field was bustling with opening flowers, enchantingly beautiful. Zoya would love them.
Zoya, whom he hadn’t seen in well over a month.
She had just disappeared one day. He had no idea where she was, but probably off hiding somewhere to plot revenge on Hecate. The thought made Sergei feel sick. What if she challenged, and lost, and was killed by Hecate?
He didn’t doubt Zoya’s skill. What he doubted was if she was strong enough to beat Hecate or her brother Cato. Or even Cato’s wife, Amalthea, Queen of Nightingale. They had no idea what may happen. Sergei knew nothing about the Nightingale queen but her name. He sniffed a glowing flower, lost in anxiety.

“Je serei, ton allier, ton alien!”