Behind her, Ferrula nudged Jax with her elbow, eyes glittering with mischief. “Spar with me.”
Jax stretched his arms lazily over his head and grinned. “Only if I’m allowed to lose.”
Ferrula rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth twitched upward.
And just like that, the evening felt a little less heavy.
Even if the world was still on fire.
Chapter
Ten
Dinner with the squad felt like breathing again—real breathing. The kind that came with laughter and the occasional snort from Tae, who’d managed to charm one of the kitchen stewards into slipping him extra dessert. We ate like soldiers between battles, grateful for the moment, knowing it wouldn’t last.
Afterward, we returned to the Ascension Grounds; the sky turning violet as twilight crept in. We trained together under the fading sun, running drills, sparring in pairs, pushing through the past few days with movement and muscle.
I’d just finished a mock-round with Ferrula when I spotted Zander striding across the grounds toward me. He looked better,still tired, but the color was back in his face, the edge of magic no longer draining the light from his eyes.
“Feel like a walk?” he asked, stopping just short of me.
I nodded without hesitation. “Of course.”
We moved side by side through the castle halls; the torches flickering along the stone walls as the shadows grew long.
“Alahathrial is expecting us,” Zander said quietly. “I’d like you to help me.”
“Something wrong?”
He nodded once. “Theron is hosting a war council tonight.”
My brows lifted. “And you weren’t invited?”
“No,” he said, jaw tightening. “Which is exactly why we need to find out what’s going on.”
He glanced at me as we neared the arch leading toward the lower chambers. “I’ve asked Alahathrial to glamour us.”
“As who?”
“Palace guards,” he said, smirking faintly. “They’ll be stationed along the inner walls of the chamber. Useless for security, but they look imposing.”
I laughed under my breath. “Theron does love his theatrics.”
Zander nodded grimly. “And we’re about to use that against him.”
The air grew colder as we descended into the lower levels of the castle; the torchlight flickering over damp stone walls. I followed Zander through the winding passageway to the suite hidden in the dungeon. The one that belonged to Alahathrial.
When we reached the ornate door etched with ancient fae script, it opened before we could knock.
Alahathrial stood within, impossibly elegant even down here. He smiled warmly. “You’re just in time.”
He stepped toward me first, raising a hand with a gentle grace that belied the storm always humming behind his eyes.
“May I?” he asked.
I nodded.
His fingers brushed my temple, cool and light, and a strange warmth spread beneath my skin. A soft tingling sensation danced across my scalp, like static or rising magic.
