Zander and Hein flew just ahead of us, his silhouette rigid against the dusky sky. He never looked back, but something told me he knew.
By the time we reached the outskirts of the clearing where our squad waited, my entire body ached, my eyelids grit-heavy with sleep.
Kaelith touched down hard enough to rattle my bones, her landing rougher than usual.
I barely swung my leg over before Remy was there, approaching fast, concern written all over his face.
Kaelith dropped her head low and growled, a deep warning rumble that made the ground tremble.
Remy froze a few feet from me, hands half-lifted like he might catch me if I fell.
I blinked, surprised she wasn’t directing that anger toward Zander, considering the truth that the fourth prince was engaged to another.
But no.
Kaelith’s fury wasn’t for him.
I held up my hand to Remy as Kaelith moved toward Hein.
Zander approached first, his boots crunching over the scorched earth, his face drawn with fatigue but still controlled.
“You need rest,” he said, stopping a few paces from me. His voice softened, just enough that it was meant for me alone. “We’ll finish up here. We’ll spend the night in Kruisaan. I need a word with the magistrate there.”
I nodded, too tired to summon the strength to argue. Even Kaelith seemed to approve, the heavy tension in her mind easing slightly.
Before I could turn away, Remy stepped closer. His gaze flicked once toward Zander, then back to me.
“Private word?” he asked, low and tight.
Zander didn’t look thrilled about it, but he nodded once and stepped back toward the others.
Remy tugged me a few paces away, far enough that the others couldn’t overhear, but still within the clearing’s line of sight.
“I caught one,” he said under his breath, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. “One of the rebels. While the others were burying the dead.”
My eyes narrowed. “Where is he?”
Remy’s face went cold, harder than iron. “He didn’t survive my interrogation.”
A sharp, ugly feeling twisted in my gut.
“How convenient,” I said, my voice colder than the wind slicing through the trees.
His mouth twitched, but he didn’t deny it.
“Someone has emboldened them within court ranks,” Remy continued, his tone clipped. “They weren’t just rebels. They were Varnari.”
I stiffened.
“They’re here to cull the Crimson Sigil,” he said, his voice dropping lower. “Not us.”
He let that settle before finishing, as grim as a death knell.
“And the Order?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
Remy nodded once. “The Order’s helping the Crimson Sigil rise... against them. And against the crown.”
“Pass the information to Zander,” I said, my voice low but firm.
