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Storms, what had I done? Perhaps it would be better for me to just disappear. If it meant he could still be king…

“And the worst part is, it isn’t about you at all,” he growled. “If you weren’t here, Gorem would have found a way to depose me for some other reason.”

I frowned. “Gorem?”

“Chief of the Wolven Mages. He’s hiding something, Cerise. I think he was the one working with Elvira.”

My blood ran cold. “A chief?”

He nodded solemnly. “I can’t prove it yet, but he knows I’m close. That’s why he’s getting me out of the way.”

Dread crept into my chest. “You say that like he’s going to kill you.”

“He probably will. Once I’m deposed, I’ll be arrested for some crime. I will likely die an unfortunate death in the dungeon. Something that can’t be traced to Gorem.”

He spoke so calmly about his own demise that I couldn’t help but reach for him again. My fingers curled around his forearm, and this time, he didn’t pull away. I held onto him for a long moment, despair roiling through me. The agony of it was far more potent than the pain I felt after learning about our Soulbound connection.

Because losing him would be so much worse than processing through my hurt feelings. Losing him would utterly crush my soul.

And I was only just now considering how torturous that might feel.

“Is there anything you can do to stop this from happening?” I asked, my voice weak. “Anything at all?”

“I have until Noontide tomorrow to assemble a case for the Council of Elders. But Gorem has them in the palm of his hand. They’ll do whatever he says.”

“Is there anyone on your side?”

He frowned. “Chief Korvus is. But one vote on the council wouldn’t hold any sway. Not facing a mob of angry Mages who have been poisoned by Gorem’s lies.”

I made a sound of frustration, anger swelling within me. Whoever this Gorem was, I wanted to wring his neck. “Is there a way to get proof he was working with Elvira?”

“Not before the trial. Reid is searching for me, but Gorem is careful to cover his tracks. There’s nothing we can do.”

A snarl built in my throat, and I scooted closer to him, grabbing his shoulders with both hands to force him to meet my eyes. “You are giving up, Alaric.”

He looked at me through tired eyes. “I don’t have any fight left in me, Cerise. I have approximately eight hours before my fate is sealed. It’s over.”

“It is not over until you’ve given up,” I said through gritted teeth. “Take charge, Alaric! You were a captain, for gods’ sakes. Make a plan. Take action. Do something!”

He shook his head, eyes closing. “I’m not in charge anymore. I have no control. No authority.” He exhaled, his whole frame sagging. “I’m used to being in charge and knowing what to do. But things are different now. I feel… lost. Purposeless.” He blinked rapidly, moisture glistening in his eyes. “I—I understand why you pushed me away, and I don’t blame you for it. Being subject to the whims of others and having no say in the matter is… crippling. I’m sorry for putting you in that position, Cerise. If you choose to leave the Isle, I will respect your decision. Your life is your own, and I don’t want you to feel trapped here. You should be happy. You should be free.” His voice was thick with emotion, and tears spilled from his eyes.

A lump lodged itself in my throat, and my eyes burned. Alaric was ordinarily so strong and fierce. So sure of himself. It killed me to see him like this.

I had done this to him. And I was a damn fool. He was on the brink of losing the throne and the trust of his people—losing his entire life.

And I’d been upset about being Soulbound to him.

Gods, I was so selfish. Seeing him in so much pain right now made something in my chest roar. I would do anything to take away his pain. Anything to fix this for him.

Because I loved him.

The truth resonated through me like the purest chime of a bell, rattling my bones and making my heart sing.

I loved Alaric Navier with my entire soul. I didn’t care about the Soulbound connection or whether Lunaria dictated our fate or not. All I knew was the intensity of emotion coursing through me.

I had to do something.

I couldn’t solve this problem for him, but perhaps there was something else I could do to help him through this.