Chapter 11: Emory

Emory, sleepless and anxious about the Selenic Order soiree, attempts early-morning practice in Romie’s greenhouse but fails to grasp Sower, Darkbearer, or Lightkeeper magic. Shaken by memories of insecurity and Romie’s protection at prep school, she arrives irritable to study with Baz in Decrescens, where a bloodletting Dreamer wanders past and Professor Selandyn briefly interrupts.

That night under the meteor shower, Emory meets Baz in the greenhouse wearing a dress for the party. They reminisce about Romie and stars, and Emory persuades Baz to let her try Sower magic. Baz demonstrates by rewinding a philodendron from root to leaf; guided by that, Emory coaxes brief new growth before it withers. When nearby students nearly catch them, Baz cuts his hand on glass; Emory heals him.

Seeing Emory’s spiral scar, Baz links it to Travers and presses her about Romie’s cryptic note referencing Clover’s missing epilogue. Emory evades, slips up about Dovermere, and Baz challenges her to stop minimizing Romie’s death. The argument fractures their fragile accord, and Emory leaves for the soiree.

Emory then storms the adjacent greenhouse where Keiran, Lizaveta, Virgil, and Nisha gather amid a lush, ritual-like scene. Confronting them, she displays her spiral mark and declares she will be part of the Selenic Order. Internally, she resolves to infiltrate the lighthouse event and end the Order’s deadly initiations, seeking justice for Romie, Travers, and the others.