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“No. In the short term, it’s going to be bad. But if the hybrids and fae end up as allies, they need to be able to trust one another. I want them living and training in mixed groups. No more split training sessions unless they’re split by ability.” It was going to be terrible. No one was going to like it. But if the hybrids and fae learned to trust one another, it could make a difference. It could be the deciding factor in whether we won this war.

“The order can’t come from you,” Demos said. I opened my mouth, and he held up his hand. “It will be bad enough that you allow it to happen once the order goes out. But we need the order to come from me and Hevdrin—Conreth’s general.”

I nodded. It made sense. I was still an outsider. Distrusted by most, and idolized by the rest. “Fine.”

Demos studied me for another long moment. “This will be terrible in the short term.” He gave me a sudden grin. “It’s a good thing we won’t be here to put up with the whining.”

I let out a laugh, and his mouth twitched. “You’re already thinking like a queen,” he told me. “This is going to be easier than I thought.”

I rolled my eyes at him, and he pointed at the blanket beneath us. “Lie down.”

Raising my eyebrow, I did as he said. He lay next to me, and we stared up at the clouds. My heart twisted.

“I love the clouds,”he’d told me once.“I used to lie on the grass and watch them for hours. Especially when the sun was right about to set.”

When he’d taken that arrow to the chest, all I’d been able to think about was that he’d never get to do this again. That I’d never get to experience it with him. This was one of his favorite things to do, and he was sharing it with me.

We lay in silence, staring up at the wispy clouds. The sun, poised at the edge of the horizon, cast a warm, golden light, the clouds reflecting a soft gradient of colors. Shades of pink, purple, and orange intertwined, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees nearby, their branches swaying.

I could suddenly breathe freely again. And I understood why Demos loved this so much. The sweet, earthy scent of the grass tickled my nose, while the sky turned ablaze with color and the sun slowly lowered.

“I love you,” I said solemnly. “And if anyone tried to hurt you again, I would kill them.”

Demos burst out laughing, the roar of it silencing the birds nearby.

I frowned. “I’m serious.”

He let out a choked gasp, and I turned my head to scowl at him.

“I know you are,” he chuckled. “I love you too.” His hand reached for mine and squeezed.

* * *

Sabium had chosen to take his dinner in his rooms each night recently. And he’d insisted I attend. This was my punishment for speaking during the hybrid’s torture.

Thankfully, we ate in silence. He was reading a stack of parchment, while I numbed myself with wine.

A knock sounded on the door, and I suppressed a frown. These days, interruptions at dinner were rarely good news.

“Enter,” Sabium said, his eyes on whatever he was reading. I itched to leaf through his messages.

Tymedes approached with a bow. I’d thought he would be dead by now, but he’d somehow managed to convince Sabium he was still worth keeping alive. “Ships from Daharak Rostamir’s fleet have been seen approaching the Frosthaven Isles, Your Majesty.”

Sabium went still. “How many ships?”

“At least one hundred.”

“That pirate bitch is up to something,” Sabium muttered.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty?”

Sabium pinned Tymedes with a hard stare. “Has the piratequeenbeen seen?”

“Not yet, Your Majesty.”

“I want her dead, and I want her fleet flying under my banner. You told me this would happen months ago.”

Tymedes swallowed but bravely raised his gaze. “Her fleet is large enough that it rivals ours. Her pirates know the waters surrounding our continent better than anyone else. This allows them to evade capture. She has also formed strategic alliances with smaller pirate groups, along with local military leaders and officials. Each time we are close to capturing her, someone tips her off.”