"The energy rebounded back to him."
"Which would explain the fierceness of the explosion," Azriel commented. "It wasn't just Amaya."
"Explosion? What explosion?" Ilianna said.
"The explosion that killed my father and destroyed our home."
"If losing our home is the price we have to pay to rid the world of that bastard, then good riddance, warehouse." Her voice was grim. "And the key?"
My gaze went to Kiandra. Even though her expression gave little away, I had no doubt she knew what had happened.
"The key is lost," she said, immediately confirming my thoughts. "The second gate is open."
"Yes."
"Oh, fuck," Ilianna said.
"Yeah," I said. "That, and a whole lot more."
"The sorceress?" Kiandra asked.
"Gone." I hesitated. "Maybe."
She nodded, her expression stoic. But I had a strange feeling that nothing I'd said had surprised her. That the loss of the second key and the opening of its gate were events she'd long known would happen.
"There is still hope left," she said softly. "At least there is as long as you and the last key remain in play."
"If the safety of the world depends on my actions," I said bitterly, "then heaven help the fucking world."