The serving girl made another round, refilling wine cups from a clay pitcher. Isi lifted her drink and took a sip, laughing at something Lexie said.
Maddox picked up his own wine, taking a longer pull, and when he set it down, his gaze fixed on Isi with an intensity that made my chest tighten. He said something, and her expression shifted. Still pleasant, but cooler. More guarded.
Derren must’ve caught the tension too, because he straightened in his chair and shot Maddox a warning look. Even Lexie’s animated chatter faltered as she glanced between them.
Kerralyn seemed oblivious to the undercurrents as she leaned forward to gather the dice.
I kept watching, a cold feeling in my gut growing stronger. Maddox had gone quiet, and he no longer participated in the game or the banter. His attention remained solely on Isi. When she laughed at something Derren said, Maddox’s jaw tightened. When she leaned over to say something to Lexie, his hand clenched on the table.
The serving girl returned, this time carrying a bottle instead of a pitcher. Something special, from the way she presented it with a flourish. Maddox caught her attention with a gesture, and when sheleaned close, he said something in her ear. She nodded, smiled, and moved away.
She returned with clean cups and began pouring the new wine. Rich red, probably expensive. Maybe he was going to finally let this go with Isi.
He reached into his pocket as the girl moved around the table, her back to him as she filled Derren’s cup. His fingers twitched around a tiny vial as he held it on his lap. After carefully removing the stopper, he slid the vial beneath his palm.
He reached forward with the other hand and gathered the dice before tossing them. They tumbled across the table, one flying off the other side, two landing in Isi’s lap.
She frowned and collected them.
While she was distracted, he sent his hand over her wine, pouring from the vial into her cup. His hand darted back, and he placed the vial back in his pocket.
Fuck, no.
Watch, I sent to Gavelle, yanking myself back, centering myself in me with a sharp jolt.
Tipping my head back, I bellowed.
In an instant, I was on my feet and across the room, ripping the door open and flinging myself out into the hall. As I moved, I watched through the cinderhawk’s eyes.
Maddox said something to Isi, and she studied him for a moment before speaking. Still frowning, she placed the dice on the table. Derren had already collected the one from the floor.
Maddox lifted his mug and waved it toward the others, urging them to do the same. His voice rose enough Gavelle could hear. “I ordered something special. I…” He shook his head, and I was sure the look of mourning on his face wasn’t faked. He’d loved his brother. “To friendship. I hope we can put the past behind us.”
No. No!
The corridors blurred as I ran, taking the stairs three at a time, my boots thundering on the stone. Guards jumped out of my way,their faces full of alarm as their king tore through the castle like a man possessed.
“That sounds more than welcome to me.” Derren lifted his mug and tapped Maddox’s. Kerralyn and Lexie did the same.
Isi stared at Maddox before bringing her cup toward her mouth.
Go, get inside,I snarled to Gavelle, and he sprang off the windowsill and flew toward the door.
Faster. Please. Stop her.
He fluttered around the door until it opened, and he could fly into the room and dart toward Isi…
…who was lowering her now-empty cup back onto the table.
I sent Gavelle into Maddox’s face, knocking the mockery away.
“Bird. Bird!” Maddox flailed his arms, trying to hit the cinderhawk.
Home,I barked, and as the cinderhawk soared toward the open front door.
Let her be all right. Let me be in time. Let me?—
Guards leaped to open the front doors of the castle as I surged toward them. If they hadn’t, I would’ve blasted them away with magic and tore through the fragments before they’d hit the ground.
