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“Fallen,” I corrected. “They aren’t who we have believed them to be. There is so much you couldn’t possibly begin to understand, nor do we have the chance or time.”

“I am beginning to understand that.” Lady Kelsey recoiled. “But we must not sit back and wait for something disastrous to befall Althea; the time to act is now, as per Gyah’s request.”

The ground fell out from beneath me.

“What did she say?” I leaned on the table for support, lungs aching.

“Gyah brought news to us regarding Althea’s status,” Lady Kelsey explained. “Although it was Eroan who spoke with her, he can best explain. We know he plans to use her, but how, we aren’t sure. But whatever nefarious plans he has must not go forwards.”

“Is this true?” I turned to Eroan.

If he confirmed, that meant that Duncan had given Gyah and Seraphine instruction to mobilise an army. But why give me the hope of trying to stop her, unless he knew we’d never catch up?

I looked to my advisor, recognising how he quickly looked to his feet and refused to look back up. “Gyah did visit me, yes.”

“Alone?” I asked.

After a pause, he replied. I knew he lied the moment his eyes couldn’t meet me. “Yes, Lady Eldrae was alone. Until she reached us, we all had believed she was the only monarch who did not perish alongside Elinor and you. All of you, actually. Of course, now we know this is not true, but advancements have been made. Gyah informed me about Althea andhowCassial wishes to use her. You must understand we only have acted as a means of necessity. We were under the impression that Althea was the last Wychwood royal still living–”

Eroan was lying about two things. One, that Gyah had arrived alone. And two, that he believed she was the only person to survive. I read it then, in his dramatic reaction when I entered the tent, the almost forced emotion. He knew I still lived, but the rest of the room didn’t. And I seemed to be the only one to notice.

“Did any of you see her?” I asked, sweeping my gaze over the tent.

“Only Eroan,” Lady Kelsey answered. “And per her requests, we have already sent a legion east of Cassial’s lines, led by Gyah herself. She plans to attack Cassial from multiple sides, then we will be ready to strike.”

Aiding Duncan’s plans.

No, no, no.

I slammed my fist down on the table, knocking wooden figures onto their sides. “It is imperative that no attack is made.”

“It is too late.” Eroan refused to look at me. “Their goal is to free Althea with little bloodshed, but we are prepared in case more force is required.”

“Send word to her. Draw her back. If she knows what awaits her, she will never act.” I blinked and saw the humans, lined out like a shield, the innocent lives that would die. Althea wouldn’t want it; I knew that in my soul. Gyah too.

“Impossible,” Ailon answered. “We are prepared to march, as per the request of the Eldrae. We will not allow you to swan in at a convenient time and lay out demands. Your presence has already spoiled fey plans once before, I will not allow this to happen again.”

Magic stirred beneath my skin, aching for release, pinned to the man who embodied the very people I hated. “Even if you knew that Cassial has put a wall of unarmed humans – children, innocent people – between us and him.”

Ailon took in my question, chewed on it, and then spat out his answer. “As I said, a retreat is too late.”

“If we attack, Gyah will not be met with the force of Nephilim, but the unexpecting terror of innocent lives. They will not survive it, and nor will she.”

“The loss of life is inevitable in war,” Ailon said with as little emotion as his brother once had. “Something you should know by now.”

“If you do not listen to me,” I seethed, finger pointing at Ailon, poised as though it was a sword in my hand. “I will stop this army myself.”

Ailon faltered, his expression morphing from enjoyment to shock. “Is that a threat, Robin Icethorn?”

“KingIcethorn,” I corrected. “And I don’t waste my energy on idle threats, Ailon. Surelyyouhave worked that out already.”

I threw his statement back at him, delighting in the way his lips quirked downwards.

“We still have matters to confirm regarding our advancements,” Lady Kelsey swept in, placing herself between us. Her expression was soft and deadly in equal measure. I caught the warning in her widening eyes, telling me to calm myself. “Sit with us, Robin. Your surprising presence may help.”

“I have made my stance clear, Kelsey.”

She gestured to a spare seat, then took her own, leaving the rest of the fey to stand. “And yet there may be time to alter ours.”