"Unless the person chooses to leave," Halian added, looking at Briar with what he probably thought was reassurance.
"Or is taken," Thaine countered. "The Forest Court has ancient laws too."
They continued debating, their voices weaving around her—laws and traditions and possibilities and threats. Arion's thumb stroked across her knuckles, a gesture meant to comfort that instead made her want to pull away. Frederick shifted against her neck, responding to her tension.
"What do you think, Briar?" Sian asked suddenly, and they all turned to her again.
What did she think? That they were discussing her like a treaty to be negotiated? That each of them had already decided what would be best for her?
Before she could formulate a response that wouldn't simply be screaming at all of them, the dining hall doors burst open.
A guard stumbled in, his face pale with something beyond fear.
"My lords," he gasped. "Someone approaches under a banner of truce. Someone who shouldn't—who can't—"
"Who?" Arion demanded, already rising, his hand still possessively on Briar's.
"We don't know. But they're using old magic. Magic that predates the courts themselves."
"The Drak," Arion said immediately, his jaw tightening. "He's come for her."
Thaine looked between them, frowning. "What Drak?"
"Karse," Sian supplied quickly. "A Drak that Briar freed during the hunt. He claims she belongs to him."
Thaine's eyebrows rose, and he looked at Briar with something between amusement and disbelief. "Of course. Because freeing one monster wasn't enough excitement for one week. Did the first one not teach you anything about the perils of misplaced compassion?”
Briar didn’t respond, her chest tightening with an emotion she couldn't name. Karse had found her? Part of her felt oddly... disappointed wasn't the right word. Conflicted. He was dangerous, but he had also protected her, had carried her for hours throughthe forest. The thought of him fighting his way into the Star Court for her stirred something uncomfortable in her chest.
"How long?" Halian asked the guard.
"They're at the gates now."
Arion rose, moving toward the door, Briar stumbling as he pulled her with him. "We need to get you somewhere safe before—"
"My lord," the guard interrupted, his face growing paler. "They're... they're already inside. The courtyard."
"What?" Arion asked, stopping midstride. "How did they get past the wards?"
Thaine cursed under his breath. "What kind of sanctuary is this if you can't keep a single Drak out?"
"Our wards are perfectly adequate against normal threats," Arion shot back, his light flickering with irritation.
"Clearly." Thaine's tone dripped sarcasm. "Though I suppose 'adequate' is the Star Court way. My lord would have already had the intruder's head on a spike."
"Your lord," Arion said coldly, "is the reason she needs sanctuary in the first place."
"At least the Forest Court doesn't let its enemies stroll through the front door."
"Enough," Halian interrupted, already moving. "Argue after we deal with the threat."
They rushed through the corridors, Arion's light casting wild shadows as they moved. If it was Karse, would he really attack the Star Court for her? The thought should have terrified her. Instead, she found herself almost hoping—
But as they burst into the courtyard, her stomach dropped.
The copper hair hit her first—that autumn flame she'd last seen in the dungeons when he'd transformed from pitiful Thomas into something far worse. Not Karse. Malus.
He stood in the center of the courtyard as if he belonged there, examining the silver fountain with casual interest. He wore deep green trimmed with gold, and every line of him radiated power he no longer had to hide.
