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Mother smiled at me, and Avalina’s words rang in my mind. I pushed them back. This was no time for rebel nonsense.

“How many did you find?” Father asked, his eyes leveling me as Mother shifted to give me her full attention.

“Eleven.” Of the group of rebels we’d found, only two got away.

I repressed a shudder as I recalled the black-haired female running, how she’d leapt into the air and how I’d been about to follow. That was until a vampire walked in front of me.

“There are more,” Father growled. “At least fifty were in the theater.”

“That’s not counting the ones who burst through the dome,” Mother added.

“The other search parties found quite a lot of them too. And some bands of soldiers have not returned yet.”

My father snorted. “It’s not enough. Search teams will continue night and day. No one will come in and out of the city. Nor sail from Avaldenn. It will remain this way until I’m sure we’ve caughtthem all.”

My mouth dropped open. To halt movement in and out of the city for a day was a big deal. To do so indefinitely? Madness.

“Father, I?—”

“You will not sway me, Vale,” my father said.

The hard lines on his face said as much, and as much as I wanted to argue, I saw the wisdom in moving on. I had other battles to fight, two I might fix now. Besides, if this embargo went on for too long, he’d see how foolish it was and call it off.

“There are other matters I’d like to address.”

Father inclined his head, and Mother set her drink down. I had their full attention.

“There are actors and actresses in the dungeon. Someare guilty and should be there, but many are not. We should release the ones who are innocent.”

“Absolutely not,” Father scoffed.

My jaw tightened. “Why not?”

“I’ll be frank, Vale. I care not if they’re guilty or innocent. They werethere, and I will keep them until I see fit to release them. In doing so, others will think twice about working with the rebels in the future.” He took a drink of wine, his face reddening with the annoyance I’d stoked.

“This is a bad idea, Father.”

“When you rule a kingdom, then you can make the calls,” Father replied. “Until then, you do as I say. Your role is to control the army. And to always bring honor to our family, which sometimes means reminding others of how powerful we are.” He looked at Mother for support, but she said nothing.

Avalina’s words came back to me. I was sure Mother and Father had secrets. What married couples didn’t?

But why would an actress know of them? Or think she did?

“It’s wrong,” I said. “You might cause more ire than inspire loyalty.”

“I willdemandloyalty.”

Stars, he was the most stubborn arse I’d ever known. I’d get nowhere with this issue when he was like this. Perhaps instead I’d recruit the cabal to free the innocent actors, or, more accurately, the members who weren’t stuck in the healers’ sanctuary. I’d speak with Sian about it later.

Loosing a sigh, I moved on to the topic that hadconsumed so many of my thoughts since I’d seen the vampire. How to protect my wife.

“I have one other matter to discuss,” I said.

Father chuckled humorlessly. “Out with it then, son.”

“I spotted a vampire in the city. Assassins who have come for Neve. They have already attacked and drained many fae in Rall Row. I request more guards around her at all times. At my door. At the base of my tower. Wherever she is, I want them there.”

Father arched an eyebrow. “They’re busy at the moment, rounding up rebel scum.”