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Adrian drew his remaining dagger, and Hector’s eyes went wide. But I placed my hand lightly over Adrian’s death grip before he could throw it, stopping him.

Adrian looked like he would murder Hector with his bare hands, but I pleaded silently with him not to.

He rolled his eyes.

“Raphael, please . . .” Leo whispered.

Raphael sighed. “It is our duty to maintain the balance of life’s natural order. You know this, Leo. One person’s life is not more worthy than another’s. Death is death for all. We have shown you kindness in not ordering her immediate death.”

The old man continued, “However, I propose Brynlynn Stewart, Princess of Two, be granted three days to travel home to Two, and attempt Delirium. Should she succeed in restoring her magic, she shall live out her days wherever she chooses. Should she fail⁠—”

“I won’t,” I said, cutting Raphael off, surprising him. “I will not fail.”

He smiled at me. “I suspect you might be right. All in favor?”

“Aye,” Leo said first.

“Aye.” I looked to where my father spoke, proudly giving me an encouraging smile.

“Aye,” Alvin and the woman from Five said at the same time. Their kindness something I noted to repay them for one day.

“Nay,” Hector spat, with three more nays from the representatives of Seven, Eight, and Nine.

Leo looked to Raphael. “The decision rests with your answer.”

“Aye,” Raphael said, eyes twinkling.

Leo bowed his head to the council. “We leave for Two at once.”

“No, Leo,” Raphael said calmly, sensing he was in dangerous territory with the king. “She must do this on her own. You are to stay here. Prepare your people for war.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Leo snapped back, his anger rising.

“Raphael is right, Leo,” my father said. “Brynlynn must do this on her own. There can be no interference from you, or your magic. You would risk her life with Two.”

Leo looked down at me, his devastation clear.

Then he eyed Adrian. “Fine. But Commander Azar goes with her, where she’ll be under his protection. Should anyone try to harm her,” he said, staring down Hector, “you’ll have Adrian to deal with. Those are my terms.”

“You’re not in the position to set terms, King,” Hector jeered.

Raphael raised his hand, silencing him. “I will allow this. Brynlynn is to arrive back here in three days’ time.”

“If she survives her trials,” heckled the mousy-looking man from Eight.

Callum ignored him, nodding to Adrian. “I will escort them both back to Two.”

Raphael nodded. “Meeting adjourned.”

As The Nine pushed back their chairs and filed out of the room, Leo grabbed Adrian’s upper arm and whispered to him, so low I almost missed his words. “If she fails, do not bring her back here. Do you understand?”

“Understood.” Adrian winked at me, defusing some of the tension I felt knotted in my limbs, and shrugged off Leo’s grip, walking to where my father waited outside, speaking with the woman from Five.

Her attention turned to Adrian as he approached, her eyes traveling up and down his body.

I wished I could see if Adrian returned her roving gaze. Her cascading blond hair and ample cleavage from the tight bodice of her blue dress making it hard for eyes not to stray her way.

I clenched my teeth as I thought about Adrian finding her beautiful, shocking myself.