I know,she cut me off, her voice quieter than usual.Katama says Remy shared his memory. He saw you, Ashe. You asked for the meeting. He assumed you wanted to flush the Varnari leader out.
Her words hit me like a stone in the chest. I stared at Remy through the bars. “I… I’ll figure this out.”
He leaned forward, fingers curling around the metal. “You believe me?”
“I believe your memory,” I said carefully. “Next time, fill your dragon in, Remy. So we don’t end up with you arrested while I’m out fighting a war.”
He huffed out a tired laugh, but there was no amusement in it. “Who could perfect a glamor like that? They had your voice… your tone… down perfectly.”
My voice was a whisper. “Cade.”
Kaelith stirred, her tone thoughtful.I’ll ask Voth.
I waited, barely breathing.
He doesn’t think so,she said slowly,but Cade’s been secretive lately. He’s hiding something.
“Of course he is,” I murmured. I met Remy’s eyes. “We’ll figure out who’s behind this. You’re not the only one being played.”
Zander’s voice rang through our link.Ashlyn. I need you. Now.
I turned from Remy’s cell, heart pounding, and jogged up the corridor. Zander was already waiting at the top of the dungeon stairs, his jaw tight with tension.
“Someone used a glamour to impersonate me,” I said without preamble. “We need to speak with Cade.”
He didn’t hesitate. “It isn’t him.”
“He joined Iron Fang. And Voth confirmed he’s been secretive lately.”
Zander gave a grim nod. “I’ll speak with him. But we have a bigger problem—” he glanced around, then leaned in, “—we have to find Elara. She’s missing.”
My heart slammed into my ribs. “What? When?”
“Not long ago. No one’s seen her since this morning.”
Without a word, we broke into a run, sprinting through the castle corridors. We hadn’t even cleared the main foyer when Quinn flagged us down, his expression urgent.
“You must come with me. Now,” he said.
“We can’t,” I snapped. “We have to find Elara—she’s missing.”
Quinn’s eyes darted around, making sure no one was in earshot. Then he dropped his voice.
“I know. She’s in the pool.”
We ran, boots pounding over stone, trailing Quinn as he led us to the far end of the tower and down the winding staircase hidden behind the ancient tapestry. The door groaned as he pushed it open, revealing the tunnel I’d nearly forgotten—onefew even knew existed. Cold, damp air pressed in on us as we descended. The torchlight flickered wildly along the moss-covered walls, casting strange shadows that only heightened my unease.
The tunnel opened into the vast underground cavern housing the sacred pool. It shimmered with an eerie stillness, untouched by the chaos above.
“Elara,” I breathed.
She floated in the center of the water, face turned toward the cavern ceiling, her long hair fanning around her like a silver veil. She was smiling. Peaceful. Serene. Like the chaos of our world had never touched her.
But her body… it glowed. Not bright, not blinding, just enough to bathe the water around her in pale-turquoise light. The effect rippled outward, making the corrupted edges of the pool appear even darker in contrast.
Zander fell to his knees at the edge of the water. “Elara?” His voice cracked, softer than I’d ever heard it.
She didn’t respond. But the light surrounding her pulsed in time with her breath, slow and even, as if the pool itself had bent to her will. Or maybe… it had chosen her.
