My head spins with this flood of information and I step between them, raising a hand to silence the bickering.
“Stop. Both of you.” The firm authority in my voice surprises me. Eve drops her head in respect, but Nix, true to her fiery nature, pokes her tongue out at the shifter. I can’t help but roll my eyes at her antics.
“Look,” I sigh, my voice softening as the weight of responsibility presses down on me once more. “I need to get ready for the arrival of the Seelie Queen.”And the funerals,I add in my head. I still hate the thought of Maxon not being here to say goodbye to Lavina.
Chapter seventeen
Everly
When I open the door, Tristan and Kian stand there, both in their formal black soldiers’ uniforms. The gold and red dragon emblems on their chests shimmer in the low light, standing out against the dark fabric. This uniform marks them as elite members of the Unseelie Court Legion.
Their faces are unreadable, but I can sense the tension radiating between them. Something’s off, though they’re trying their best to mask it.
“Princess,” they greet me in unison, bowing slightly, their hands resting on the hilt of their swords.
I glance between them, my brows furrowing. “I thought Raiden was coming to get me,” I note, stepping out into the hallway with Nix perched on my shoulder and Zaria following closely behind.
Kian’s eyes flick toward Tristan, as if waiting for him toanswer.
“Raiden’s been delayed. He sent us to escort you instead,” Tristan explains.
I study them for a moment, noting how Kian’s jaw clenches ever so slightly, and how Tristan stands just a bit too stiffly.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Zaria steps up beside me, her black dress rustling softly as the golden pleats peek through the flowing fabric with each step. Her gown is simple and delicate, contrasting with my more regal, dark green gown. The corset of my dress pulls me upright, and the flowing skirt brushes against the floor with every movement. The long tight sleeves loop over my middle finger, and the neck is square with soft trims of lace around the edging.
“Nothing.” Kian’s tone is clipped, eyes narrowed slightly, as if measuring his words.
Nix makes a soft sound, and I see her cross her arms from the corner of my eye. “You two haven’t kissed and made up yet?”
Zaria glances at me, curiosity sparking in her brown eyes. I haven’t told her yet—it was Kian who fed Alivar information about me. That he somehow bypassed the wards and granted the Seelie Prince access to the castle. And honestly, now isn’t the time to get into it.
“Well, Kian can grovel later.” My nerves for what is coming are eating me up on the inside.
Without Maxon here to help me navigate all this, my anxiety is through the roof. I smooth my hand over the soft silk of my full skirt, taking a deep breath as we start to move down the hall.
When we turn left at the end of the hall instead of right, I stop. “Where are we going?”
“Raiden asked to bring you to the war room,” Tristan answers.
“Why?”
“He went to get Nolan from the dungeons.” Tristan’s voice is calm, too calm.
“On your orders,” Kian adds, and I can hear the question behind the words.
I pull my shoulders back, squaring off against Tristan and Kian, my gaze locking onto Kian first. “If you’re free to walk around,” I begin, narrowing my eyes, “then it’s only fair that he is as well.”
Kian’s eyes widen in shock at my bluntness, and I catch the subtle shift in Tristan’s posture—his spine straightens, the muscles in his jaw clenching slightly. I can feel the tension radiating from him, his unease evident, though he tries to hide it. Behind me, Zaria’s hand slips into mine, her fingers squeezing gently before letting go. Her support is silent but steady, yet I can sense the questions brewing in her mind. She knows there’s more to this conversation.
No one speaks for a long moment.
Finally, I break the silence, my voice low but firm. “Look, Nolan has information we need. Information I need to run this court. He was the closest to Lavina, and we can’t afford to keep him locked up if he’s willing to help us. He’s not our enemy.” My gaze flicks to Kian, then back to Tristan. “And you know it.”
There has been so much deceit that it’s hard to keep track of friend and foe. My head spins with each lie and betrayal, building a tangled web of mistrust. Every step forward feels like stepping on glass, sharp and cutting, leaving a trail of open wounds. I was so mad, so furious when we first realized someone close to us had been leaking information to the Outcasts and then to the Seelie Prince. But I don’t have the luxury of holding grudges. If I have any hope of getting Maxon back, I need everyone’s help, whether I like it or not.
My heart clenches painfully, anger still simmering beneath the surface, but it’s a dull throb now, not the burning inferno it once was. I take a slow breath, steadying myself. I can’t let this cloud my judgment. Not when so much is at stake.
