“Excuse me, fellas?” I say, loud enough that it echoes off the stone. “How about you come over here and tell us exactly what’s going on?”
Four heads turn.
Four sets of ancient, dangerous eyes land on me.
“This is not talk for women—” Thorne starts, voice all gravel and fire.
Delia turns her head and pins him with a single look.
Sharp. Flat.
Don’t you dare.
His mouth snaps shut so fast I almost hear his teeth click.
I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
Dagan’s dark brows lift just a fraction.
There’s a spark of pride in his gaze, like he’s pleased I spoke up.
Which, considering I just called out the four most powerful beings in this realm, is kinda nice.
Alaric pushes away from the table with a spread of his arms and a courtly bow.
“We have no secrets, Lady Alina?—”
“Save it, Lord of Illusion,” Jules snorts, rolling her eyes. “You disappear for three hours to ‘check the winds’ and come back smelling like war and ash. You’re not that mysterious.”
Delia snickers.
Phoebe hides a grin behind her book.
Alaric clutches his chest as if mortally wounded.
“Betrayed by my viyella in my own brother’s hall.”
“Sit,” Jules orders, then pats the arm of her chair. “And talk. All of you. Now.”
Dagan rises smoothly.
His gaze finds mine as he crosses the hall, and the bond between us tightens with every step he takes in my direction.
That low power thrums in my bones again, answering him.
“These are dangerous times,” he says, voice carrying easily as he comes to stand beside my chair. His hand finds my shoulder, warm and grounding. “You are viyellas of Nightfall now. You deserve the truth.”
He looks at us—each of us. Jules, Phoebe, Delia, and finally me.
“Idris is attacking all four kingdoms at once,” he continues. “The Broken Plains. The Tidal Lands. The Eyrie. The outlying forges and Dreamwright sanctums. We believe it is a diversion tactic.”
My stomach drops.
“A diversion from what?” Phoebe asks quietly, closing her book.
“The Crown.” Kael’s mouth is a hard line. “He knows where it lies now.”
I glance instinctively toward the far end of the hall, where a massive stone door sits quiet and watchful.
