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I had to keep him talking.

“Why am I an obstacle?” I asked. “Go ahead and take the throne. It has nothing to do with me.”

Gorem’s brows lowered. “Do not take me for a fool. You’re cleverer than that.”

I wet my lips, shaking my head. He couldn’t be serious, could he?

“Elvira was more cunning than I gave her credit for,” Gorem said. “Hiding you from me, all these years? I had no idea Silas had sired anyone during his time in the fae lands.”

Silas. The name sent a bolt of recognition through me.

Then, I remembered.

In Elvira’s journals, she had said the Rogue’s name was Silas. He had claimed to be a member of the royal family.

I had dismissed this immediately, assuming he was lying or Elvira had been mistaken.

But… what if it had been true?

That would mean⁠—

“I’m the heir to the throne,” I said in a hollow voice, my insides quivering with terror.

It was wrong. It was abhorrent. I was a witch who had only found out days ago about the wolf living inside her.

But bloodlines did not lie. And regardless of my inadequacy, I was Silas’s heir. I was a member of the royal family.

A sick feeling churned in my gut as I eased backward another step.

Breathe, I told myself. Don’t let this distract you.

Gods, I missed having Sasha in my head. She was always the voice of reason, grounding me when my panicked thoughts started to spiral.

Focus. I slid my hand behind my back and wiggled my fingers, trying to summon my magic. It flickered in my chest, weak but still alive.

“Yes,” Gorem said slowly. “Or rather, you were the heir to the throne… until you suffered a devastating rupture during your recovery in the infirmary. A rupture that, sadly, killed the entire Council of Elders and King Alaric as well.”

My breath caught in my throat. A savage smile spread across Gorem’s face. He lifted his hands, but my magic was already flowing.

Before he could act, I thrust my hands toward him, conjuring a fire spell. Flames burst from my fingertips and ignited in the air. I wasn’t strong enough to strike his body, but the fire blazed a few inches away from his face. He cried out and crammed his eyes shut, giving me time to run.

Or… stumble.

I slammed into a cot, my legs like jelly. Shadows pooled in the room, chilling the air. Heart pounding, I kept moving, dragging one leg that refused to cooperate. I tried summoning a camouflage spell, but my magic sputtered out. I waved my fingers frantically.

Nothing happened.

Shit.

A shadow coiled around my ankle, bringing me crashing to the floor. I screamed as my knees struck against the cold stone, pain splitting through me from the contact. I reached out for the table in front of me, trying to pull myself up.

Gorem sliced his hands through the air. More shadows spilled from his fingers, shooting right for me.

I shrieked and rolled on the ground, tucking myself under a cot for protection. The shadows cracked against the stone with a deafening crash.

Weapon, I thought desperately. I need a weapon!

I couldn’t use my wolf.