My heart is in my throat when we reach the portal. A portal collapsing on itself is unheard of, but I still had hope that it was nothing but a freaky coincidence. But when Hazel points to the damage around it, that hope shatters.
It’s clearly been tampered with…from this end.
My brain scrambles for a rational explanation, but my gut already knows the truth.
Hazel hesitates. “Only Horsemen know how to manipulate a portal’s magic… or force it to collapse.”
“Or anex-Horseman.” My words echo in the silence.
I double over, bracing my hands on my knees, breathing through the weight of what this means.
I immediately link Khatri. The Warriorhead mumbles in his sleep but snaps to attention at my order.
“Find my parents. Only take warriors you trust with your life. Do whatever it takes, but don’t let them leave the realm, Khatri.”
I don’t have to stop to question his loyalty. Dean trusted him with his life and with his daughter when Nevaeh was young. That’s good enough in my book.
Panic slams into me when Khatri tells me my parents are nowhere to be found.
The realization hits me like a blade in the chest. I’ve left my mate alone, surrounded by enemies wearing the faces of allies.
“What is happening, Horseman Alarie?”
“I will explain later. For now, trust no one. Ignore all orders from anyone outside my family—the one I chose. And make sure no one gets in and out of the kingdom without my say-so. I want all portals seized immediately.”
My head spins as I sprint back to my mate, trying to fit these new pieces into a puzzle I didn’t even know existed.
Suddenly, Hazel’s arm shoots out to stop me. She nods ahead, and I see the cluster of elders and elite warriors waiting outside the Horsemen castle.
I want them gone. Out of my sight. I have no patiencefor diplomacy and politics when my mate’s life hangs in the balance.
But before I can dismiss them, the former second-in-command of Conquer requests an emergency council meeting, and Hazel, without hesitation, accepts on my behalf, giving me a look that saysplay along.
I swallow my frustration and link Harvey to meet us in the conference room, but only after Khatri takes his place guarding Nevaeh.
The ex-Warriorhead goes straight for the kill as soon as we’re seated.
“Horseman Alarie, I think we can both agree the kingdom has faced some serious troubles lately. After last night, many of us suspect Miss Blackburn is deliberately putting our future leaders in harm’s way.”
Heads nod around the table. Voices rise, debating whether the future Horsewoman of Death should be cast out of the kingdom.
And suddenly everything clicks into place, and the bigger picture slams into focus.
We’re on the cusp of a coup.
This is how the coven always knew about our whereabouts in advance. They weren’t ambushing us every step of the way because they were lucky. They had help. Our own people have been selling us out all along.
I wasn’t blindsided. I was set up.
These are the same people I’ve bled for, risked my life for more times than I can count. This is how they repay me? By betraying me? Targeting my mate and son?
I want to crush their throats until they struggle to take their last breath, but rage won’t win this war. Not yet, anyway.
Everyone who wove this scheme, trying to destroy my family, deserves worse than a quick, clean death. My gaze sweeps over the council, carving every face that sides with the snake my father chose as his Warriorhead.
Soon, I will carve their betrayal into their flesh.
I link Harvey and Hazel. We all know what needs to be done. Their subtle nods confirm it. My perfect life is about to come crashing down.
