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Zeke stared after him, shifting from foot to foot.

“Go check on him,” Ash said, giving Zeke what we all knew he needed.

He paused to squeeze my hand. “He’ll come around,” he whispered, then rushed out after Cyn.

I didn’t know what Cyn believed he saw in me, but I didn’t manipulate him or anyone else.

But what if I were missing something?

I hadn’t known my family’s history. All my life, I’d feared the same “mental illness” that plagued the women in my family would consume me too.

It was clever deceit crafted by the Shyrlivi men in my bloodline. I couldn’t call it cruel; I wanted to believe they meant to protect us with their glamors.

But what if more lies existed? Could Cyn sense them?

I didn’t understand how their—no, our species worked.

Could we detect magical deception? Glamors, illusion magic?

I turned to Ezra. If anyone could answer my questions, it’d be him.

I’d learned fast he was the princes’ leader, and after meeting his father, I understood why. Ezra would someday head the council as Elyrdin’s leader.

He stared at me without a word, waiting for me to speak.

He never pushed me. Never said more than necessary. Sometimes it felt like he studied me for weakness—or for an opening to strike.

I shuddered.

His brow arched.

“Can you… or well, can we sense magic? Or illusions? Like you did with Shane,” I asked, proud I didn’t stumble over my words under his intense stare.

He crossed his ankles as he considered my words.

Ash sat on the edge of the sofa. “Why are you asking that?”

“What Cyn said.” I crossed my arms. “He thinks I’m doing something on purpose, but what if there’s more we don’t know? I mean, I didn’t know I was more Shyrlivi than human, either, but here we are. What if there’s more?”

“Quinfina said glamors hid your identity and all the other women in your family so no one would find you.” Ash looked at Ezra, brows furrowed. “What do you make of it?”

“It’s worth considering. Though I advise against bringing it up around anyone in Elyrdin,” Ezra said, meeting my eyes. “I’m sure Father will deliver a broadcast to our people to explain what happened.”

Ash scratched his beard. “Shit. The cameras.”

Ezra inclined his head. “The cameras continued to roll, and I don’t know how much footage they captured after the staff collapsed. Enough to cause unrest, I’m sure.”

“I don’t get why anyone would watch a televised execution.” I pushed my hair out of my face.

“Different cultures,” Ash said, offering me an apologetic smile. “But not everyone watches. I wouldn’t watch if I didn’t have to be there as part of the Elyrdin Guard.”

“Father will mitigate the damage, but if anyone discovered you have more secrets, I can’t predict the fallout,” Ezra said, steering us back on topic.

“I don’t need to give them more reasons to kill me,” I mumbled.

“It won’t happen,” Ash said. “It’d hurt us.”

Right. Mates.