A quick laugh left my lips. Ever since I met her, she has always had a way of seeing more than I would show. It should have felt unnerving, yet it always had the opposite effect. It made me feel closer to her, like she truly saw and knew me. “But,” I bit out, taking a moment to calm myself, “I want to help him escape as well. He may serve Ambrose, but that doesn’t mean he wants to.”
“And he told you that?” Samian growled. I didn’t miss the challenge in his voice, nor did I miss it in the gleam in his eyes.
“Yes, but I was able to discern it for myself as well,” I cut back.
“He has done terrible things in Ambrose’s name, Sybil. Hale is not some down-on-his-luck male looking for a better life. Hechosethis when he decided to serve under Ambrose.”
“What about me then?” I reminded Samian, the mark of the bargain burning under my sleeves. “Am I some down-on-my-luck female looking for a better life, or do I deserve the same treatment he does? Doyoudeserve the same treatment? Or Ivara and Daelan? In my eyes, we are all the same. You three are still standing by while Ambrose commits these terrible acts. Do you have your reasons? Yes. Do I understand those reasons? Yes, again. But that changes nothing. Like it or not, we’re the same, and Hale is reaching out for help. I know I would want someone to give me the benefit of the doubt if it were me.”
Panting after my outburst, I watched Samian carefully. His face softened, the anger slowly leaking out of him.
“She has a point,” Ivara said quietly, hesitating on what she was about to say next. “I can also vouch for him. Sybil isn’t the only one he has come to for help. I’ve gotten several servants who were in danger out of the palace safely with his help.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” Daelan complained as he finally walked into the living area, plopping down in the chair beside her. “Why wasn’t I involved?”
“Because you were too busy sailing around the world and having those ‘crazy adventures’ you enjoy talking about non-stop,” Ivara said, giving Daelan a pointed look. Her gaze drifted back to Samian. “If Hale says he wants our aid, I believe we should help him.”
Samian groaned, sitting on the chaise. “Fine, I’ll talk to Kieran. However, don’t blame me when he comes after you for doing something stupid, Sybil. He may not show it often, but his temper has been an issue in the past, and with his need to protect you, it’s slipping from his grip again.” He sighed deeply, reluctance hardening into resolve in his eyes. “Did you promise him anything? Did he say anything else in return?”
Shaking my head, I relaxed in the chair, hope blooming in my chest. “I told him I could only talk to Kieran, but that I would push for us to help both him and his brother. He did mention having Aster tell Ambrose about a blood flower, though. He said that she needed to tell him she needed more of it or something.”
“The blood flower?” Ivara asked suddenly, surprise rippling across her face.
“That’s what he said,” I shrugged. “I tried to ask him why, but Samian busted through the door like a brute and scared him off. He said that Ambrose wouldn’t refuse if Aster said that. Well, that hecouldn’trefuse.”
The room went quiet again, everyone lost in their thoughts. Finally, Samian nodded slowly, a plan forming in his eyes.“Daelan, go to Aster and let her know. Then visit Ambrose and get his permission for all of us to go.”
Chapter 32
Sybil
Once Daelan and Aster met with Ambrose, the rest of the morning passed in a blur. Before we knew it, Ambrose sent Hale to deliver a curt note to Samian, Ivara, and me informing us we were to ready ourselves to leave immediately for Ivara’s estate. Samian and I changed into our uniforms, then met Ivara in the hall. She wore dark navy pants that billowed, flowing down her legs, cuffing at her ankles. A shimmering golden shirt wrapped around her, hugging and showing off her curves. She wore her hair down, the thick black strands wavy and elegant.
We made our way to Aster’s office, where she stood waiting with Daelan, who also wore his uniform. Aster stood a considerable distance away from Daelan while he grinned ear to ear, though she didnotlook amused. If anything, she looked ready to kill him. I would have laughed, but when her pointed glare found mine, I cringed, remembering my stomach pains and the nausea from a few hours ago.
“You look better,” Aster smirked, her knowing glance trailing down my body.
“As good as new,” I laughed weakly, resisting the urge to gag at the memory of the serum’s taste.
Ivara arched a brow, curiosity coloring her features, but I shook my head. I would tell her later when we weren’t around Aster. Daelan and Samian might already know what happened, but I refused to give Aster the satisfaction of letting one more person in—at least not someone she wasn’t aware of. I could only picture the smug smirk she would flash me while Ivara let out that honeyed laugh of hers. Internally shaking the thought from my mind, I focused on anyonebutAster.
Daelan flicked his wrist, his air magic filling the air to form a bubble around us. “Alright, the plan is to meet Kieran and Vivi at the camp. We will go straight to the council room so that the others won’t know of Sybil’s presence. After that, we will follow Vivi’s lead for the Seelie Court. Any questions?”
We all shook our heads, though my nerves ate away at me. I had heard little about the mysterious Seelie Court, other than that it was a place full of gods and ancient fae—and apparently phoenixes, too. Not to mention the fact that both Cassia and Dryden belonged to the court, which meantIbelonged to it as well. Part of me wondered if they would be able to tell that another one of their kind walked among them, but I quickly pushed that thought aside. From the way Edris and Zarina acted, they didn’t know. I was just a faerie like Samian and Kieran, and that was fine with me.
Samian rested a hand on my shoulder, offering a warm, reassuring smile before the world fell away and we found ourselves in the council room. Kieran, Vivi, Orin, and Ezra sat around the table, waiting for us. Kieran stood from the table, wearing a beautiful black tunic that looked soft, though his face was grim as he walked toward us. Vivi and Orin were in a quiet conversation, while Ezra sat alone, his face drained from what looked like a lack of sleep. Dark circles bloomed under his eyes, making his skin look faint.
“Did you tell him yet?” I asked Samian, an unsettling feeling washing over me as I watched Kieran come closer, forcing a smile on my face.
“No,” Samian said calmly, though his voice sounded a touch stiff. “He already gets antsy when we have to go to the Seelie Court. I don’t need him to be even more on edge. We can tell him later tonight during training. I’m sure he will want to work it out then.”
Samian flashed me a look of pure wicked glee with his last statement, and I inwardly groaned. I could only imagine how Kieran would take it out on me during our training tonight. Even last night, he seemed to push me harder than in previous training sessions. My muscles still ached from the constant movement.
Stopping in front of me, Kieran wrapped his muscular arms around my waist, pulling me in close. I couldn’t stop my heart from fluttering at his touch, and I relaxed into his chest while the others spread out across the room. Guilt from meeting Hale alone made my stomach twist, but I ignored it. Samian was right; waiting to tell Kieran was probably the best thing to do.
Vivi walked up behind Kieran, clearing her throat. Kieran let out a deep exhale, refusing to move, a deep grumble rising from his chest. Smiling, I looked around him, finding her holding two beautiful sets of clothes. One was dark green, which she handed to Samian, who groaned as he grabbed it and left to change. The other set was made of deep-purple silk and resembled what Zarina had worn the night before. I moved away from Kieran, taking the clothes from Vivi with a confused look.
“The Seelie Court is very particular about how you dress,” Vivi said softly, a hint of an apology flashing in her eyes. “It wouldn’t be well-received to talk to Solaris in your uniform. I’ll show you where you can change.”
