Garrick exhaled sharply. “She shouldn’t have been down there at all, Jaxon.”
“She deserved to be there,” Jaxon snapped. “You haven’t even heard her theory—Hale’s team has been stumbling around in the dark without results for years. But Araya came up with an actionable idea without even having all the information.”
Jaxon’s gaze flicked to Araya, softer for a heartbeat before hardening again as he turned back to Garrick.
“She’s the only one who’s produced anything actionable in years. She doesn’t just deserve access—she deserves credit. She deserves a seat at the table. Whether or not Hale or the rest of the Arcanum like it, she’s earned the right to work on this directly.”
Garrick pressed his lips together, considering. “You want me to grant her an official clearance.”
“If that’s what it takes.” Jaxon crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m far more concerned about results than I am about arbitrary rules.”
“What about her?” Garrick turned his sharp gaze on Araya, staring at her with an intensity that made her spine stiffen. “Have you asked her if this is something she can handle? To be intimately involved in the breaking of one of your own kind—it’s not an easy ask, Jaxon.”
“I don’t have any loyalty to the fae monarchy,” Araya whispered, her chest tight.
All she had ever wanted was to live the best life she could—to have a warm bed, enough to eat, the right to practice her magic, andthe freedom to breathe without constantly looking over her shoulder. She’d never wanted to be the key to anything—yet here she was, a pawn being positioned for someone else’s victory in a war she wanted no part in.
“Of course you don’t,” Garrick said gently. “No one is questioning your loyalty, Araya. Any fool can see the devotion you have for my son. But even the most finely crafted tools can splinter under strain if they’re not handled properly. You’ve seen more than your share of darkness, Araya. I’d hate to see something so valuable ruined by carelessness.”
He glanced back at his son with so much disappointment that Araya squirmed uncomfortably.
“I know how difficult it must have been for you to see a fae in that condition—something Jaxon should have considered before he took you down there.” Garrick sighed. “I know it’s hard to believe, but Loren and I were friends once. What he’s been reduced to—even I find it sad. No one would think less of you if this wasn’t something you could do.”
Araya shivered as Jaxon’s hand fell heavily onto her knee beneath the table, his thumb tracing slow, steady circles. Maybe it was meant to be comforting. But all Araya felt was the leaden reminder of who she owed her privileges to.
“I’ll do whatever Jaxon needs me to do,” she said.
“Very well.” Garrick nodded slowly. “I’ll take care of the clearance, then.”
Araya sat silentlyas Jaxon walked his father out, staring down at her soup. It had cooled, its surface thick and congealed. Her appetite was gone anyway, replaced by gnawing unease. She should just brew the tea Serafina recommended and go to sleep?—
“Eat, Starling.”
Jaxon’shands settled on her shoulders, warm and firm. Araya flinched under the sudden touch, the tickle of his breath on the back of her neck sending a shiver down her spine. “You need your strength.”
It wasn’t a request.
Araya picked up her spoon with trembling fingers, staring down at the cold, heavy mass of potatoes and cream. Bite after bite, she forced it down. Each bite coating her tongue in a thick, tasteless paste. By the time she set the empty bowl aside, her stomach felt like she’d swallowed a stone.
“Can the Arcanum really revoke our bond?” The question tumbled out before she could stop it, her voice trembling in a way that made her wince. She hated how small she sounded.
“They can,” Jaxon murmured, brushing a kiss against the back of her neck as he reached over her shoulder to pick up her dish. “But they won’t. Because you’re going to prove yourself. By the time you’re done here, they’ll be giving you a medal.”
His words weren’t a reassurance—they were a verdict.
The quietthunkof the coldbox closing made Araya flinch. Jaxon moved like a shadow across the kitchen, washing the dishes and stowing away the leftovers. Finally, he tossed the towel over his shoulder and leaned against the counter, studying her.
“You worried me,” he said.
Araya lowered her gaze, her cheeks burning. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “You’re right—I shouldn’t have gone out like that. I thought I could handle it, but if Serafina hadn’t been there?—”
“You saw Serafina?” Jaxon’s voice sharpened, his expression darkening.
“I ran into her at the Crust & Kettle,” Araya said, choosing her words carefully. “She walked me home and recommended a tea to help me replenish my magic. I didn’t…I didn’t tell her anything.”
The tension in Jaxon’s shoulders eased—slightly. But the furrow in his brow lingered.
“Of course you didn’t,” he said. “I just remember how hurt you were when she pulled away because of our bond.”
