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I looked up, not bothering to resist as the Nephilim reached for every concealed weapon they could find. But it didn’t stop there. One by one, the plates of armour were removed, stripped off by careless hands, until the brush of cool air rippled over my bare skin. Even Seraphine’s box was taken out of my pocket. My heart stopped as they opened it, tipped out Seraphine’s sketch and discarded it on the floor. Out the corner of my eye I saw the slip of parchment flutter in the winds before landing in mud and being trodden by careless boots. The vial thudded into the mud, but before it was noticed I slipped a hand over it, fingers digging in the dirt for purchase, and picked it up.

With no time to clean it, I mocked a cough and slipped the vial into my mouth. I couldn’t think about precautions as the glass tinkered against my molars, the vile taste of grit lathering my tongue and cheeks.

If they pried my lips open, they would find what had been missing from the box. Turned out, I was lucky they left my undershorts on, as a crowd of humans began to gather and watch. The hate in their watching stares was palpable. So strong it kept me to my knees, even if the Nephilim released me.

“Do not fear, my dearest humans,” Cassial’s voice came again.

I continued to search for him, only to discover where it was coming from. Mirrors – the same I saw in hands during the procession to Althea and Gyah’s wedding. They were propped up almost everywhere I could see: from grand, gilded designs to mundane mirrors in bland wooden frames.“I will not allow such monsters to harm you. All is well, you are safe as long as you stay with me.”

I strained against the harsh grasp of many arms, hoping that if Cassial was using this moment to converse with humans, showing them what was happening through Duwar’s power, then I had to take my chance to ruin the picture he painted of the fey.

“Is that the excuse you used,” I called out, a prominent lisp thanks to the small glass vial at the back of my teeth, “when you beheaded Queen Althea Cedarfall?”

Shock broke out around me, like the rush of a wave against the shore.

“Lies,” Cassial’s voice spat, hissing like water against hot coals. “Never trust the tongue of a serpent who wishes to suffocate you with its coil.”

“Youkilledher,” I spat, sweeping my gaze around as much as I was allowed, trying to locate where Cassial was hiding. “You severed her head and planted it on a spike to taunt us–”

All around me, the disgruntled responses of humans began. It was clear they didn’t believe me. Were they so blinded by Cassial’s promises that they no longer could understand a truth from a lie?

Did they even expect the army that had been coming for them? I only hoped Erix’s gryvern continued to hold them back.

Erix. I couldn’t think about our last moments together. His touch, the brush of his caring gaze. Instead of faltering in my need of him, I placed all my hope that Erix would listen to my command and wouldn’t come chasing after me until my signal was received.

“Althea Cedarfall is not dead.”

Fury ruptured through me at his bare-faced lie.

I was hoisted from the floor before the words could settle over me. “I saw her head. You can lie to those around you, but you can’t lie to the ocean of fey who seek vengeance for her murder. I have seen the humans you store before you like shields, do you not care for their safety, or do you need them in their places to take the full brunt of the crossfire you so desire–”

“Enough of your deceptions, Robin Icethorn.” Cassial’s voice boomed over me, heavy with unseen power. I wondered the toll using Duwar’s power had on him.“You can perpetuate your mistruths about Althea Cedarfall. But every soul here watched as she was abducted from our care by that Eldrae woman. We have all bared witness as the Eldrae tore into the Creator’s greatest warriors. You can spin your web to entrap us, but it is made from frayed thread.”

My reply failed me, words dying on my tongue. All I could think about was that Gyah had been here. If I was to believe Cassial, that meant Gyahhadsuccessfully saved Althea. But the relief of that revelation lasted but a second. Because it confirmed the one thing I had tried not to believe.

If that was not Althea’s head on the spike, it meant that it belonged to Seraphine. Relief and grief melted through my mind.

When Eroan was successful at peeling back Seraphine’s glamour, proving that it wasn’t Althea’s head presented on the spike, it would prevent the war that Cassial had hoped to spark.

“MyNephilim, see that Robin Icethorn is taken to my lodgings,”Cassial’s command rippled over the crowd. “I wish to speak with him. It would seem that Robin here requires a reminder as to the peace accords he has signed.”

The circle of Nephilim parted enough to allow another figure to step through. I blinked against the glare of harsh light, lifting a muddied hand to my brow to get a better look.

My breath caught in my throat. From the top of my skull, down to my toes, a violent chill sliced down my spine, threatening to flay me open and reveal all my secrets.

“Up, fey scum,” Duncan Rackley said as the chain at the end of my collar was handed to him.

I settled my disbelieving eyes on him – full snow-white wings, eyes as green as a forest in summer and a scowl I’d seen once before, when I was first captured by him.

Duncan. He was here. I barely had time to react as he pulled at the chain again, making me stumble to the ground. The skin around my neck ached as the cuff pulled. I felt a trickle of wet as fresh blood inched down my naked chest.

He had hurt me.

I locked eyes with Duncan, who’d not looked away from me all this time. “I said, get –up.”

I did as he asked, unable to speak even if I wanted to. No one else seemed to notice that he didn’t belong here. His act was so powerful, I too almost believed it.

Duncan’s presence was yet more proof that Gyah had been successful. I had to believe it.