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“Taking a walk.”

Two more bowls of stew and a plate of fresh bread were placed on the table in front of them. Both women began to eat, and something settled within me as a little color returned to Prisca’s cheeks.

A man dressed in Gromalian green approached us. I slid to my feet, stepping between the messenger and the table. The messenger gulped, his hand trembling as he gave me the parchment. Taking the message, I handed it to Prisca.

Demos dropped a couple of coins in the messenger’s hand. No one spoke until he’d scampered out of the inn.

Prisca scanned the message, and I wanted to slaughter Eryndan for the desolation on her face.

“The Gromalian king has given us a choice. He’ll break his alliance with Regner and join with us if…if we handle hisuprisingin the west.” Her eyes were dull, her voice drained. She handed me the note, and I scanned it.

Rebels had taken a large swath of land in western Gromalia, along the Gromalian and Eprothan borders. I’d told Prisca about them when we were traveling to the fae lands.

According to the message, they had become even more of a threat recently.

They’d created their own army and laid traps around the territory they’d claimed as their own. Eryndan’s men kept attempting to take the territory back, and each time, more of them died.

Prisca’s gaze met mine, and those amber eyes held so much misery, it took everything in me not to stalk out of the inn and slaughter the Gromalian king myself. That beast inside me didn’t care about the political ramifications. Didn’t even care about war, or the lives that would be lost. No, it only cared about her.

It hurt, shoving that beast back down where it belonged. Especially when Prisca’s eyes glittered. “Those rebels are people who want a better life,” she whispered. “People just like—”

“No,” Telean said, her voice harder than I’d ever heard it. “Our kingdom was invaded for no reason other than Regner wanted what we had. Our people were entirely innocent, slaughtered merely because we had a power he believed he deserved. And they’ve been in hiding ever since, forced to watch as their children were killed too. Don’t forget who you’re fighting for, Nelayra.”

Prisca’s mouth tightened, but she nodded. “Perhaps…perhaps, the rebels can be convinced to disband if we tell them about the threat coming their way.”

I shook my head. “They consider that territory to be their own now. They would no more abandon it than you would hand over the hybrid kingdom.” I held up the letter. “This gives us free passage through Gromalia, which is the fastest way to get to the rebels’ territory. But if you prefer, we can skirt the rebels and travel directly back to the hybrid camp where you can determine what you want to do about the Gromalian rebels.”

“We can’t.” Demos had been exceptionally quiet, but he glanced at Tibris, and something silent passed between them.

Asinia went still, and understanding flashed across Prisca’s face. Something told me this was why they had been meeting so often in the hybrid camp.

I leaned back in my chair. “How about you tell me what you’ve been hiding from me all this time, hmm?”

There was only one reason why Demos and Tibris wouldn’t want us to go directly to the rebels in an attempt to gain the Gromalian king’s support. They were going after the hourglass. Prisca had been careful not to mention it to me, but I’d known when she read my message that she would figure out a way to find it. Pride shot through me, and it took everything in me not to haul her onto my lap and slam my mouth down on hers.

Pride was tempered by something darker. Prisca knew if she told me the location, and I told my brother, Conreth could beat us there.

Oh, he wouldn’t actively fight Prisca for it. But he could send a small team to sneak in and steal it from under her. I knew exactly who he’d pick for such a mission. Galon and I had trained some of them ourselves.

“You can trust me, wildcat.”

I had said the words quietly, but Telean still let out a snort.

“Your loyalty is to your brother, Lorian,” Prisca said softly. “It’s not a bad thing. I understand it. But it means I can’t tell you everything.”

Her words shouldn’t have wounded me. She was right. But I had to force my expression to turn blank.

“You are very helpful with your sword and your lightning.” Telean addressed me. “But this relationship between the two of you cannot last. You know it, we know it.”

Something ancient and feral opened one eye inside me. Something that wanted to lay waste to anyone and anything that would take my wildcat from my side.

Prisca’s breath hitched, as if her aunt’s words had burrowed deep into her chest and hit a lung. I wanted to wrap my arm around her, but I wasn’t even sure if she would welcome it at this moment.

“I’ll make a blood vow,” I conceded. “Swearing that I will not tell Conreth of this until it is safe.”

“UntilIsay it’s safe,” Prisca clarified, and I smiled.

“Agreed.”