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“Thank you,Damious.” Cassial’s raised hand was one way of cutting the Nephilim off. “But our guests do not need to be concerned with any minor issues.”

“Actually, we are rather adept at dealing with issues,” Gyah said, hand laid upon the hilt of her sword. “You’re welcome to share this, if you choose to.”

It was another dig, at Cassial’s prior mistruth.

“My betrothed is right,” Althea started, sensing the tension in the air. “If there is an issue at play, we absolutely should be included in the conversation.”

Cassial stood from his chair, which was better described as a throne. It was impressive how obvious he displayed his comfort whilst sat in it. I’d think that a warrior of the Creator would at least pretend he wasn’t interested in control. All that was missing was a crown, and Cassial was no different to a king. “Princess Cedarfall, these arehumanmatters.”

“And the treaty we have just signed ensures that we are united, does it not?” Althea pushed on.

“It does, but that starts in eighteen years, as mentioned.” Cassial’s dismissal was cold as ice. “Now please, if you wouldn’t mind, I have matters to deal with, and you have a party to get ready for.”

Althea and I shared a glance, mirroring that which Erix and Gyah had. Elinor too. But none of us asked questions. Elinor was the one to shepherd us all out of the room, like a mother goose guiding her hatchlings out of danger.

“I, for one, would like to know exactly what has ruffled his feathers,” Althea said as the grand doors closed. “Secrecy is certainly not a way to set the tone before the ink has had a chance to dry on the papers.”

“In his defence,” I said, attempting to dilute the distrust between my allies. “We have kept secrets, as has he.”

“I don’t like it,” Althea persisted. “Minor or not, I want to know what is going on.”

I took pleasure knowing that my friend didn’t like Cassial. I knew she had good taste. But for the sake of pretences, I had to keep up my attempt to distil this tension. The first being that my investigation into the Below proved that Rafaela was not, in fact, there. I’d lied and told them she was in her rooms, healthy and whole, certainly not severed of wings.

It was necessary to furthermyplans.

“I’m sure it is nothing to worry about,” I replied, offering her a subtle, discarding shrug. “As Cassial said, these are human matters. They’ve been dealing with them for a while, and we don’t divulge matters that occur across our borders. We can at least trust he has it under control.”

Althea shot me a look that told me she didn’t believe me. “Did you see that Nephilim that came rushing in? He looked rather flustered about something.”

Erix was so still beside me, I almost forgot he was even there. It wasn’t until he spoke that I remembered his ever-presence. “Hunters. That’s what they are discussing.”

We all looked to him, shocked at his admission. Before we could ask how he knew, Erix gestured to his pointed ears. “My hearing has improved. Thanks to… you know–” He gestured a hand down his body as if pinning the blame on his new form. “This.”

I wondered how many unwanted conversations Erix had heard before now. Like last night, did he know who visited my room? When I entered his, and he woke from sleep, was that all an act?

My own lies were poisoning my judgement, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

“What else do you know?” Gyah stiffened, wrapping a protective arm around Althea’s waist. “We’re going to need more than that.”

“Cassial has left already. Zarrel is on his way to check on us,” Erix’s eyes flickered toward the corridor. “I say we go before he discovers we are all stood around discussing matters that, as Robin put, are not of our concern, shall we? We can pick this back up later.”

“Should we be worried?” Elinor asked, rich voice dripping with concern. “Because I am.”

Erix shook his head. The way his eyes diverted to me, how when he replied his voice shivered slightly, I knew he was lying. “No. Just that a band of them have been found near Lockinge. It’s in hand from what I could hear.” A creak sounded beyond the door. “Now, scatter.”

And scatter we did. I’d no choice but to follow Erix, because he threaded his hand with mine and guided me through Lockinge Castle toward our chambers. The suddenness of the touch, when we had been dancing around it, took any ability to do anything but follow away from me.

Only when we came to a stop, and he dropped it again, did I find I could speak. The lingering warmth of his touch didn’t falter.

“You just lied to them,” I said once I knew our companions were out of earshot. “Didn’t you?”

I knew Erix had the moment the words came out his mouth. How his gaze had strayed, and his left hand flexed on and off at his side. Telling signs, considering I knew him well.

“I did,” Erix replied, coldly.

“So, weshouldbe worried?”

Erix swallowed hard, the audible thump of the lump in his throat making the hair on my arms stand. We’d come to an abrupt stop, in a narrow hallway lined with empty portraits. Sconces burned with fire, lighting the way, making the golden hue of flames lick and dance across the many banners displaying the Creator’s symbol.