The inside of the vehicle was just as dark as the dream Sebastian awoke from. Pale light from the moon outside poured through the long, horizontal windows built into the walls on either side of him. They were driving down a road framed by snow-covered pine trees. Mountains loomed in the distance, peeking just over the hazy horizon. Through the glass, he spotted a few of the vehicles barreling down the road ahead of them. The rest of the convoy rode behind, securing the rear.

It had been midday when Sebastian dozed off. Judging by the moon's position and the midnight hue of the sky, they were well into the night.

Rubbing his eyes, he sat up in his seat. A dull ache echoed from his neck to his lower back. Grumbling, he massaged the sore muscles. Falling asleep in a metal chair probably wasn't the smartest idea. He should've moved on to one of the sofas.

Once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he noticed there was no one in the compartment with him. He furrowed his brow before carefully standing up. The floor rumbled beneath his feet, moving with the massive wheels rolling underneath the vehicle's metal frame. Dorian was no longer lounging on the ground anymore. The werewolf was nowhere to be found. Imogen and Jocasta were missing as well.

The hairs on his arms and the base of his neck rose in anticipation. Was this another dream? Had Mauvorin somehow invaded his psyche again?

Before his mind could run riot with more conspiracies, a series of whispers coming from the lone bedroom tucked away in the back of the compartment reached his ears. His shoulders relaxed and he exhaled upon recognizing the voices. Imogen and Jocasta. Their hushed conversation escaped through the crack in the door.

Sebastian tilted his head at the room. He couldn't see either of them, as the door didn't have a window.

What are they talking about?

Normally, he wouldn't have cared. But seeing as how he had no one to talk to and was wide-awake after his nap, he figured some eavesdropping wouldn't hurt.

Tiptoeing along the carpet, he approached the door and pressed his ear to the polished wood.

"—does he know?"

"Not yet."

"Are you going to tell him?"

"I haven't spoken to your father in years, Imogen."

"That makes two of us."

A silence passed between the two women.

Sebastian blinked rapidly as he realized the subject of their conversation. He recalled the time Imogen revealed her story to him. She, too, was plagued with trauma and sorrow. Not only did she lose her mother to the Arkangels, but her father abandoned her, leaving her alone in a psych ward after she had a mental breakdown. The immense feeling of loneliness that must've caused... It was a miracle she hadn't lost her mind for real.

"You know he left me?" Imogen eventually said. "I know this means nothing to you, but losing my mother broke me. It broke both of us."

Jocasta paused. "We had to take precautions."

"You could've left us alone."

The woman scoffed. "I don't think you're understanding the gravity of what your parents did. Your father fell in love with a magician. A solair, yes, but still a magician. What if she convinced him to give up our secrets? What if we were attacked? I couldn't allow that to happen. I'm sorry, but I won't apologize for protecting my people."

"My mom was a good woman. A kind woman. She didn't....she didn't deserve to die because you were afraid."

"Imogen, we have rules. Your father knew what happened by breaking them."

"Screw your rules! We didn't do anything to you!"

Sebastian didn't have to see her tears to know they were falling. Her voice quaked with rage.

"Your father left us no choice."

"There's always a choice, Jocasta. Always."

He heard Imogen sniffling inside the room. His hands curled into fists at his side. Nostrils flaring, he resisted the urge to storm into the room and tell Jocasta off.

The Arkangels murdered her mother out of fear. Destroyed her family because of what could have happened. How many others had they killed for the same reasons? How many other innocent lives had been taken by them? It was because of that that Sebastian knew peace wasn't an option. Not with them. Not after everything they had done.

In a way, they mirrored the Order. They believed in stopping threats before they had the chance to even become one. Much of his father's quest for world domination was inspired by his determination to prevent the Prophecy of Eight from coming to fruition. That ship sailed a long time ago. No one could stop a prophecy. Not even him.

Shaking his head, Sebastian placed a hand on the door and prepared to push it open. Before he could, a rush of cold air flooded the compartment. He spun on his heel, only to see a panel from the ceiling wide open, giving way to the star-filled sky outside. He quirked a brow at the skylight.

What the—

Dorian's head popped into the opening. His crimson eyes shone in the night like rubies.

"What the hell are you doing up there?" Sebastian hissed.

"The view from the roof is mesmerizing," he answered.

He gave the werewolf an incredulous look.

A half-smirk pulled at his mouth. "What're you doing?"

Sebastian stole a glance at the door before averting his attention back to Dorian. "Don't worry about it."

Dorian rolled his eyes. "I asked you that out of curiosity." He tapped one of his ears. "I hear a lot." His expression relaxed. He then patted part of the roof with his hand. "C'mon. I doubt Imogen will be happy to know you've been spying on her."

He pursed his lips. "I was not..."

"Yeah, okay."

Rolling his eyes, he glanced at the door again. Imogen and Jocasta were still speaking. However, Dorian was right. It wasn't his place to be listening in on their private discussion. Had she wanted him to hear, he'd have been in there with them. Some fresh air would do him some good anyways. The inside of the compartment was starting to get stale.

Sebastian couldn't work out how Dorian managed to get to the roof. He didn't see a latter anywhere. Then he realized he probably just jumped.

"Mind giving me a hand?" he asked begrudgingly.

"Oh, right."

Dorian reached through the opening and offered both arms for Sebastian to grab. He stiffened as he was pulled up effortlessly. His pale cheeks flushed red for a moment. Luckily, the darkness of the night shrouded his embarrassment. To the red-eyed man, he probably weighed nothing. The perks of being born a monster, he supposed.

#

The wolf wasn't lying about the view. It was astonishing.

Snowy mountains rose into the sky for miles in either direction. A cluster of trees framed the winding road they traveled down, occasionally broken up by the odd road sign or truck stop. In the lane opposite them, a semi-truck passed them by. Sebastian spotted the driver gawking at the massive party of what must've been more than fifteen vehicles.

Dorian had his face pointed to the heavens as he laid out on the roof. The moon illuminated his dark skin, highlighting every scar and crimson tattoo that decorated his sculpted physique.

Sebastian sat cross-legged next to him, his gaze focused on the grey clouds gathering above them. He breathed in the fresh scent of pine and podzol floating around him. The pair didn't speak for a while. They might not have been at each other's throats anymore like before, but that didn't automatically make them friends either.

He snuck a glance at him. His eyes never left the sky.

"What?" he said after a while.

Sebastian looked away.

"You just gonna stare at me or are you gonna talk?"

"What is there to talk about?"

Dorian rubbed the creases in his forehead before sitting up. Bringing his knees to his chest, he wrapped his arms around his legs and looked up again.

"So..." he trailed off. "You and Imogen, huh?"

Sebastian rolled his eyes. Of course. "Contain your excitement, mutt."

"I'll ignore that," Dorian said. "I'm happy for you."

"Of course it does. Now you've got a clear shot at Makaela."

He knew that's what the wolf was probably thinking. The Lumaian magician was the source of their rivalry. Apart from their obvious shared feelings for her, they had no real reason to be at odds. They had more in common than they might've let on.

Sebastian couldn't help but laugh.

"What's funny?"

"Nothing, nothing... It's just... I immediately hated you because of her. Not because you're a werewolf or you once fought for my father. I hated you because you had her attention. Now I don't even care."

Was that the truth? Did he truly not care anymore?

Just because he had chosen Imogen didn't mean his feelings for Makaela just disappeared. They would always be there, lingering underneath the surface. But he knew he couldn't hold onto them anymore. He couldn't keep hoping things would fall perfectly in place for them to be together. It just wasn't in the cards.

"I actually am happy for you," Dorian repeated. "Look, I'm not going to pretend like we're best friends, but we are allies. And we both care for Makaela. I know she cares for you—and for good reason." The wolf smiled at him. "You're a good man, Sebastian."

He quirked a brow at him. "You mean that?"

"Others might not, but I see you. You torture yourself for things you can't control. You dwell on your mistakes and shortcomings. But you never stop trying to be the best version of yourself." He took a breath. "You're like me."

Sebastian leaned backward on his elbows. Now it was his time to peer thoughtfully at the black sky.

Dorian had a past. What exactly it entailed, Sebastian wasn't sure. But he knew there was something there. Anyone who could overcome their past, their nature, to become something greater... He'd always have respect for them. He knew exactly how hard it could be to break free from the mold that was created for a person the day they were born. It took strength. It took courage. It took humility.

"You're not so bad," Sebastian said with a hint of a smile.

"Right back at you."

Another silence passed between them. This one was less awkward and more peaceful. A breeze passed over them, chilling Sebastian to the bone.

"Once we get back to the palace and get this all sorted," Sebastian said, "we're going to get Makaela back."

Dorian nodded at him.

It had to be them. Even with the help of the Arkangels, House Brynjir, and whomever else they managed to join them in the fight, they would still need her help. The girl was in Tibet for a reason. Whatever she was training for would surely help them beat the Order. She was the last piece; their heavy hitter, their secret weapon. They would need her to battle Thorian again, and they would need her to win. It was their destiny to fight.

The Black Lotus versus the Light.

It had to happen.

And it would.

Like the storm clouds gathering above his head, Sebastian could feel the conflict stirring. Things were about to get dark. In a few days, they would be in Hodvekt. Then they'd be back at the Eldenarian Palace. From there, the real war would start.

Thunder rumbled overhead. A few droplets of rain fell onto the roof. One hit Sebastian's skin.

He closed his eyes and listened to the sky weep.