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“It has been a long day of traveling,” I mentioned, drawing the attention away from the past. “I hope you can forgive our late arrival, the reasons for which I will bring up in my meeting with Cassial. In the meantime, a little rest will be just what we need. Please informyourSaviour, that we have arrived in one piece and look forward to an audience with him tomorrow.”

“No need, by now Cassial is already aware that you have arrived. There isn’t a single detail overlooked in this city.” Zarrel paused long enough to offer me the most blinding smile, one that almost reached his eyes, but not quite. “Let us get you into the castle with haste, unless your gryvern would prefer another means of travel to the destination?”

“Hisnameis Erix,” I snapped, unable to control myself. The fury came thick and fast, half aided by my exhaustion but also at the idea of anyone disregarding him as nothing more than a mindless monster.

Erix laid a hand on my arm. “It’s okay, Robin, I am sure Zarrel meant no harm.”

“Icertainlydidn’t.” Zarrel quickly bowed, without even attempting to hide his subtle grin. “Please, King Icethorn, Erix – follow me.”

Large white wings beat down, sending the Nephilim skyward. Erix made a move to embrace me, so close that when I spoke, my words were for him alone. “Well, he was pleasant. And by pleasant, I mean prick…ly.”

“I’m not going to tell you that you’re wrong, little bird. But perhaps it is best we keep pretences up for the duration of our stay. Pissing off our hosts wouldn’t be beneficial to our already taut relationship.” Erix focused ahead, worry set into his brow. “And to be fair to Zarrel, we are late.”

“So? Pissing off their guests wouldn’t be a smart way to start this either,” I reminded him.

He didn’t reply, but I knew Erix agreed.

Erix wrapped his arms around me and the ground fell away as he got us airborne. A cloud of Nephilim hung above us, outlined by the full moon. At the head was Zarrel, eyes fixed to me, an attention I didn’t want nor enjoy. He waited for us to follow, his smile still etched into what was an undeniably handsome face. There was something calculating about his stare: a dislike that I understood but didn’t have to accept.

The final stretch to Lockinge Castle was brief.

I took a deep breath in through my nose, expecting to smell the stench of shit and ale that infected the slums of the city. Instead, the air was fresh. Better than it had been before. More proof that the Nephilim were succeeding in their new challenge at improving the humans’ lives.

I recognised the places where our fires had burned the Asp’s hideouts. It had been as a means to draw Aldrick’s followers away from the castle long enough for us to break in and save the fey he kept as prisoners. Except, where shells of burned buildings should’ve been, were now the scaffolding of new buildings. Not homes, but places of worship, each and every one of them. With their spired roofs, it looked as though the Nephilim had hand-picked Abbott Nathanial’s church and placed them throughout the city.

So much had changed, in such little time. Even the castle looked different the closer we got. The whiter the stone walls appeared, almost brand new. It was clear that the Nephilim had tried to scrub away the sins of the city since they’d taken control of it. And yet, I couldn’t help but wonder what they’d done with the Below – the prison beneath the castle. Had they filled the prison with Hunters – a place hundreds of fey had once been held for Aldrick to harvest for blood like cattle? Or would they keep it empty, just in case they one day required it again?

Deep down, I felt as though I already knew the answer.

No matter how many times I requested, Zarrel – the white-winged Nephilim who’d not-so-kindly welcomed us into Lockinge – refused my requests for an audience with Rafaela.

Waiting until morning to speak to Cassial was easy to accept considering I had not come here for him. But knowing Rafaela was close, I could barely contain myself.

I’d not come all this way only to be denied the one thing I came for: answers.

“I will put forward the request that you’d like an audience with the traitor – with Rafaela,” he corrected, although I knew his hesitation was to give me a clear message. “But I cannot guarantee Cassial will accept. But rest assured, King Icethorn, I will do my very best.”

Somehow, I didn’t think his ‘very best’ meant much.

I felt every muscle in my body tense as I stood in the middle of the chamber I was given. Erix was, as always, a shadow at my back, studying Zarrel with a wary eye. Our shared emotion for the Nephilim tainted the very air around us. No doubt Zarrel noticed, but likely didn’t care. He’d made it very clear the feeling was mutual.

“I made the summons request clear in my letter,” Erix said through gritted teeth. “As you have previously confirmed, you already received it.”

“We did. But in that same letter you also made it clear that you were to arrive hours prior to this,” Zarrel reminded. “It’s late. The city is asleep, and so should you both be.”

We couldn’t argue with that, and the more I did, the more questions Zarrel would ask. I came for answers, not to create unwanted questions from people I didn’t know.

Zarrel gestured to the room, the wave of his hand more a dismissal than anything else. “You both have travelled miles and deserve to recuperate your energy. Breakfast will be hosted in the old throne room tomorrow morning. There you will meet with the other heads of the fey courts before a day of council meetings.”

“And Rafaela?” I pushed for a final time.

The curl of Zarrel’s lip sickened me. His disgust for Rafaela only increased my disgust for him. “I will arrange for you to petition that request directly with Cassial after the morning’s activities. I’m not the one who can grant you the acceptance you seek, I’m afraid.”

“Does Rafaela not have the ability to answer for herself?” I said, my growing unease now a maelstrom of panic.

Rafaela had told us that she may face punishment for what part she had played in destroying the three keys, but I was beginning to wonder exactly what that punishment entailed.

Zarrel’s pause made my skin burn hot. “Goodnight, King Icethorn. Erix. You’ll find everything required for your brief stay already in your respective rooms. If you need anything else, there will be guards stationed close by at all times.”