She's my blood. And no matter what he's done to her, no matter what he's made her believe, I will not let him use her against me.
I will get my sister back.
Or I will burn the Light Court to ash trying.
CHAPTER 32
THE BREAKING
Kaan
"Gentlemen, lady,"I drawl, settling into my chair as two faction lords stare at me with varying degrees of hostility. "Shall we skip the tedious pleasantries and proceed directly to why I've summoned you from your comfortable territories?"
The war council chamber feels suffocating despite having so few occupants. The massive table seems to mock us with its emptiness, seven seats that should be filled, now occupied by only two lords and my general. Maps cover the surface, marked with too much evidence of our failures: red pins for Light Court advances, black for reality tears, and gold for territories lost to the Eastern Uprising.
"My lord," Lord Kaya of Sessiz Ovalar begins carefully, his tone laced with barely concealed bitterness, "the eastern territories?—"
"Are in open rebellion along with five other provinces, the Light Court is advancing from the west, reality tears are spreading in the north, and Lord Taren has formally dissolved the blood covenant," I finish, waving a dismissive hand. "Yes,I'm aware of our multiple catastrophes. That's not why you're here."
"Aware." Lady Asena of Gece Daglari repeats the word like it tastes of poison. She's the only other lord who remained loyal—or perhaps just the only one too proud to bend the knee to the Light Court. "How fortunate that you'reaware, my lord. Some of us were busy bleeding while you were... elsewhere."
The temperature in the room drops several degrees. My shadows flicker, responding to the challenge in her voice.
"Careful, Lady Asena," I say softly. "Your tongue has always been sharp, but grief makes fools of even the wisest."
"Grief?" She laughs bitterly. "Is that what we're calling it? While you vanished for two months—two months—we lost fifty-five percent of our territories. Seventeen provinces declared independence. Five of our fellow lords chose rebellion over loyalty. Thousands dead. But please, do continue with your awareness."
Lord Kaya shifts uncomfortably but doesn't contradict her. The resentment radiates from both of them like heat from coals.
I could kill them for this insubordination. My shadows want to. But they're not wrong, and we both know it.
"You want an explanation," I say, my voice deadly calm. "You think you're owed one. Perhaps you are." I lean forward, letting my power fill the room until it presses against their skin like a physical weight. "I was trapped in the Veil. Not vacationing. Not hiding. Trapped in a realm where time moves differently, fighting to save my wife from a curse that would have destroyed both courts."
"Your wife," Lord Kaya mutters. "While our families, our people?—"
"Were left to my Shadow General's capable command," I interrupt. "Emir held what could be held. That we lost territorywas inevitable but the fact we didn't lose everything is a testament to my Shadow General’s skill."
"And to our sacrifice," Lady Asena adds quietly, her earlier fire dimming to something rawer. "My southern border is ash, my lord. Three cities. Gone. And I'm one of only two lords still sitting at this table."
The weight of that settles over the room like a shroud. Two lords. Out of seven. The Shadow Court has been gutted.
"You're right," I say, and the admission clearly shocks them. "I failed you. My absence cost us dearly. And now I'm asking you—the only two who remained loyal—to trust me again."
"Trust." Lord Kaya laughs bitterly. "We're all you have left. What choice do we have?"
"You have the same choice the other five made," I reply coldly. "You could walk out that door right now and join the eastern rebellion. Negotiate your own peace with the Light Court. Save what's left of your territories." I pause. "But you didn't. You're here. Why?"
Lady Asena and Lord Kaya exchange glances.
"Because someone has to remember what loyalty means," Lady Asena finally says. "Even when it's not returned."
The barb lands precisely where she intended. But before I can respond, I stand and let my shadows expand until they dominate the room.
"Then let me show you what your loyalty has earned you. Twenty thousand Fae warriors."
The stunned silence that follows is profound.
Lord Kaya’'s hand tightens on his chair. "The Fae have remained neutral for fifteen centuries."
