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“I had my suspicions long before she came to Elyrdin. I wondered if we were right about her manipulating us after all, but our blind acceptance of Quinfina’s words clouded our judgment.”

Mom nodded. “It happened so fast after Quinfina came. I, too, question the legitimacy of the human’s place here.”

“She’s not just human,” Cyn said, glaring at my mom.

“Can you say that for certain?”

“She partially transformed. A human can’t do that.”

“She could if she used illusion magic,” my dad said, giving Cyn a pitying look.

We all knew how much the subject of glamors and illusion magic triggered Cyn. But if anyone could detect an illusion, it’d be Dad.

Vithrelas excelled at creating and detecting illusions. Dad wasn’t as strong as he once was, which was why Cornaith targeted me to do his dirty work instead. But Dad’s ability to detect illusionary magic still overshadowed mine.

It was one more reason I hated being born into my family.

I didn’t want to be the weapon made from everything Cyn feared and hated.

“My understanding was that her magical capabilities were impeded and that you erected safeguards to thwart outside interference throughout her trial,” Ezra said, meeting Cornaith’s shrewd gaze.

“That was our intention,” Cornaith said. “But as you saw yourself, it didn’t prevent her from accessing magic.”

“If the magic was hers at all,” Dad interjected.

Mom nodded.

I hated how much they sucked up to Cornaith. I wondered if they had an independent thought of their own. If they did, I knew they’d never share it—not if it defied Cornaith.

“We have a sealed tether,” Ash snapped, unable to hide how much the discussion upset him. “She is my Nyrith.” He motioned to us. “She is their Nyrith.”

“Another product of the illusion,” Cornaith said. “Ashryn, you must understand that if she has someone like Quinfina on her side, then it is possible she has access to formidable illusion spells.”

“That’s bullshit,” Cyn said, pushing his fingers into his hair. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I tensed, my gaze snapping to Cornaith. His fingers twitched, but he made no move to stand. Ash had already shifted a step toward Cyn without anyone noticing, ready to intervene if necessary.

“Cyn,” Ardvaen warned.

Cyn growled and glanced away.

Cornaith gave Ardvaen a sidelong glance and nodded, apparently pleased that he’d corrected his son.

My shoulders relaxed when Cornaith returned his attention to Ash and asked, “Can you say with absolute certainty that what you feel is a completed tether?”

“Yes.”

Mom sat forward. “You have no doubts?”

His throat bobbed as he swallowed his anger. “None.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I feel her here.” He hit his chest with his fist. “She lives in here. We’ve all seen and experienced illusion magic at some point in our lives. I’d know if this wasn’t real.”

“But you questioned her truth while you were on Earth,” Cornaith challenged.

Ash’s lip curled.