She hesitated, which wasn’t like her. “Some are saying Ferrula let the assassin in on purpose, that she’s sympathetic to the Varnari.”
I blinked. “What? That’s insane. She would never?—”
“I know,” Riven cut in. “But Iron Fang isn’t just spreading the lie. They’ve petitioned the crown… to have her disbonded.”
The blood drained from my face.
“Can they even do that?” I asked.
Riven shrugged. “No idea. But with Theron’s support, anything’s possible right now. And Cade’s already turned half of Iron Fang into his own little band of bootlickers.”
My jaw clenched. Disbondment.It wasn’t just exile—it was betrayal. A dragon severed from their rider. It could kill the human.
“They’ll have to get through all of us first,” I said, standing. “No one touches Ferrula.”
Riven’s smirk returned, sharp and lethal. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”
“The castle isn’t safe anymore,” I muttered as I finished pulling on my boots.
Riven stood with her arms crossed and eyes glittering with something too intense to be amusement. “Yeah, no shit. I had a feeling you’d say that.” She pushed off the frame and walked toward me. “That’s why I sent a message to your sister last night. Didn’t mention Veyna—I figured that was your secret to tell. I just said you needed help. You’re meeting her by the gate in ten minutes.”
My heart clenched. “Thank you.”
Riven just smirked and tossed me my cloak. “Don’t make me regret playing courier.”
I got dressed in record time and all but sprinted through the lower halls, ducking the courtiers and guards whispering about the banquet, about Ferrula, about everything that had gone toshit in the last forty-eight hours. My heart pounded as I reached the gate—and there she was.
Solei.
She stood tall and unbothered, a single braid falling over one shoulder, her arms crossed over her leathers as if she hadn’t just ridden halfway across the realm on short notice. Her blue eyes locked onto mine and softened instantly.
“What’s going on?” she asked, stepping forward and grasping my forearm.
I took a breath and let it all tumble out. “There was an assassin at the banquet. It was the Crimson Sigil but Iron Fang is trying to pin it on Ferrula. She didn’t do it, Solei—Cade lied. They are trying to have her disbonded.”
Solei’s jaw tightened. “I’ll look into it. I still have a few informants tucked around this snake pit.”
I hesitated. That wasn’t everything. Not even close.
“There’s something else,” I said quietly.
“What?” Her voice shifted, sharpened.
I glanced behind me, just to be sure no one had followed, then stepped closer. “I have a sister.”
Solei blinked. “Yeah, me.”
I shook my head. “I mean another one.”
Her brows shot up. “You’re serious.”
“She’s... Veralin’s granddaughter. He took her before I was born. She’s been a prisoner since she was a baby. I found her when I rescued Elara.”
Solei stared at me as if she’d just been sucker-punched. Then, slowly, she said, “Well. That’s... a lot.”
“Yeah.”
“Is she safe?”
