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Lorian glanced at me. “Regner has tied it to his blood. But I have a theory.” He nodded at my own blade.

I pulled my blade free and sliced my blade down my forearm, hissing at the sting. I flicked my own blade at the ward, the scent of my blood sliding up my nostrils.

Drops of blood hit the ward. It glowed a silver so bright I had to glance away.

Lorian smiled. “Regner didn’t account for the power from the hourglass itself. The hourglass has molded the ward. It won’t just accept his blood. It will also accept the blood of the hybrid heir.”

An arm came around my throat. Terror exploded through my stomach, and I clawed at the arm, head spinning. A trap. We hadn’t killed all the iron guards.

Lorian sucked in an audible breath. It was as if he’d been gut punched. “Cavis…”

The arm tightened. “Lorian, I don’t know what’s happening.”

My heart hammered against my ribs, and my mind went momentarily blank.

Demos was yelling something. Asinia had begun begging Cavis to let me go. The blood had drained from Lorian’s face.

I managed to crane my head, peering up at Cavis. My breath dried up, denial slowly giving way to realization.

One side of his face was covered with a spider web. The mark glowed black and gold beneath his skin.

The king’s web.

No. Not Cavis. Fury clawed at my throat. Regner couldn’t have him.

“Release her,” Lorian bit out. “We can fix this.I’llfix this. We’ll undo what Regner has done.”

Lorian’s gaze found mine, and for the first time since I’d met him, his eyes held true terror. He flicked a glance to the knife at my side, and I swallowed.

Could I stab Cavis?

Lorian’s eyes burned into mine. Demanding compliance.

My hand drifted down. Cavis caught it, tightening his other hand around my throat.

“I’m sorry,” he said. His voice cracked, and for a moment, he sounded like a small child.

Demos was slipping to the right, attempting to get behind us. Cavis snarled, tightening his hold further, and Demos froze.

“You’ll snap her neck,” Asinia said, her voice low and soothing. “Ease up, Cavis.”

He did. Likely because Regner wanted me alive.

My gaze met Asinia’s. This would ruin Tibris and Demos. She had to be there for them. Her dark eyes filled as she stared back at me. She shook her head, her mouth trembling.

But I knew she would support my brothers.

I reached for my power, but it was gone. Snuffed out by fae iron. Blood dripped from my nose at the attempt.

“Kill me, Lorian,” Cavis snarled. “Hurry. I can’t hold off for much longer.”

I closed my eyes, and all I could see was Cavis, traveling with us, fighting with us, laughing with us. The unconditional love he had for Lorian, Marth, Rythos, and Galon and their years of brotherhood. His quiet humor, his steady presence. The way he’d looked at Sybella, as if he couldn’t quite believe she was his. And his daughter, so tiny clasped in his arms.

“We don’t need to kill you, Cavis.” I opened my eyes. “We just need to fix you.”

He let out a hollow laugh and took a step back, pulling me with him. His entire body was trembling as he fought whatever orders had awoken him.

“Tell Sybella I’m sorry. And Piperia…”