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“You’re not going anywhere until you fix this,” Eryndan said.

The amusement drained from Lorian’s eyes. “Consider your words carefully,” he said, slowly getting to his feet. He held out his arm for me. I took it.

I met Rekja’s gaze. His expression was unreadable.

“You believe you have won?” Eryndan laughed. “A simple letter to Sabium, and our alliance will be steadier than ever.”

I gave him a slow smile and didn’t say a word. We both knew the Eprothan king. While Regner would perhaps believe Eryndan the first time, I would do everything I could to break their alliance. I would make it seem as if the Gromalians were working with everyonebutthe Eprothans.

Regner already didn’t trust the Gromalians. I’d learned that soon after I’d arrived at the castle when I was one of the queen’s ladies.

The Gromalians had attempted to stay carefully neutral when Regner first went to war with the fae.

“King Sabium may need Gromalia to help us shore up our borders, but he’ll make them pay for siding with the fae last time.”Alcandre’s voice had dripped with disdain for the Gromalians.

Now, Regner would believe they were ruining his plans once more. Not just by staying out of his war, but by actively siding with his enemies. A small part of me hoped Regner came for Eryndan. I hoped he felt one drop of the helplessness the hybrids had felt for all these years.

“Did you hear me?” Eryndan hissed.

“Write your letter,” I said. “Perhaps you should keep your parchment close by for the next letter you’ll need to write. And the one after that.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?”

I angled my head. “I’m going to use small words so you can understand me. We will do whatever it takes to ruin your alliance with Regner. We will make him think you have betrayed him over and over again, until eventually, so much evidence piles up that he declares war. I suggest you consider whether you want to face that war alone.”

I nodded at Rekja and squeezed Lorian’s arm. He began leading me away from the table.

“You willfix this,” Eryndan snarled.

His guards spilled through the door, into the room, instantly surrounding us.

Rekja heaved a sigh.

One of the guards drew his sword.

A single spark drifted up from Lorian’s hand.

Flames exploded in a circle around us, burning blue at the center.

I choked on my next breath. Lorian couldn’t just summon fire. He could summonfae fire.

The fire that was impossible to put out without damask weed mixed with the water. The fire that could burn through this castle and everyone in it.

The blood drained from the guards’ faces, and it was evident they knew exactly what they were looking at.

“Lorian,” I murmured.

He didn’t reply, his gaze remote as he watched the guards.

Lorian had spent the majority of his life with only a small amount of his power. And now that it had been returned, that power was bubbling up inside him, likely urging him to kill the humans who would attempt to stop him from leaving.

So I turned to Eryndan instead. “If I were you, I would call off your guards.”

He stared at Lorian in horror. Rekja’s expression was tight as he glanced between Lorian and his father.

“Lorian.”

His eyes met mine. There was no green left in them—just darkness.