Page 271 of Commanding Scythe and Sky

My heart sank. I blew out a breath, dabbing at my still-running eyes with the tissues, then caught Aren watching me, his eyes narrowed.

“What happened, Blythe?”

“I’m not sure,” I confessed. “Adrastos brought me in to examine Ally. I think… it was almost like he was buying me time with her?”

“That makes no sense,” Mags snapped.

“I know.”

“You can’t believe anything he says or does. It was all engineered to manipulate us.”

“I know.”

She nodded tightly before asking, “And then?”

“He collapsed. Out of nowhere, he just buckled. Said something about Moros and vanished. When he and Bartholomew reappeared, they had a mostly dead Moros in tow. I realized…”

I cut myself off. I’d never told anyone about the ropes of fate. Not even Mags.

Only Alvara had ever put it together. Well… Alvara and Adrastos.

“I could sense his life force being pulled into his brother, and then…” I’d watched her braid funnel into him like water down a drain. But how the hell did I explain that?

“Mags went down too.”

Nodding, I said, “I was afraid of that.”

“Okay, focus. I’m not sure how much time we have,” Aren warned. “Where are you? Give us everything you’ve learned. We’ll send someone home to report back to August.”

I gave them everything I could think of: the palace, the cliffs, the birds, the startlingly long summer days that told me just how far north we’d come. The portal spilled into the gathering hall, just like it would in most Middle Realms.

“Good. That’s good, Blythe. And Ally? Where are they keeping her?”

“I don’t know. I’m so sorry. They keep moving her. She was in the dungeons, then some kind of cell—like an old asylum room—then a bedchamber, and another after that. I think they’re moving her so no one can pin down her location.”

He nodded, disappointment settling heavily across his shoulders. “Thank you.”

“I’m sorry I don’t have more.”

“You’ve done everything you can. You did it all right, Blythe. Keep your head down. We’re coming for you.”

“I know,” I breathed as another wave of tears burned hot behind my eyes. “Aren, tell me what you know about these Bonds. How deep does this go? I…”

Aren said nothing. He only tilted his head in patient understanding. Unwavering, as always.

“I have a potential window. An… opportunity.”

“What kind?” he prodded, though the hard set of his gaze said he already knew.

“A dinner. The royals are hosting a ‘faction of the bloodline’—whatever that means⁠—”

“Focus, blondie,” Lana snapped. “What are you thinking?”

“I got my hands on belladonna seeds.”

“You performed Reyna’s enchantments.” Mags’ eyes flew wide when I nodded. “That tincture is terribly effective,” she warned. “If you’re not precise, it will kill anyone who drinks it.”

“Yeah, well.” I shrugged. “I’ve got one shot at this. But I can’t take it if it puts Mags at risk.” Aren covered his mouth with one broad palm, eyes moving slowly from me to Mags and back.