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She nodded absently, her brow furrowed.

Yanking Conreth’s amulet from around my neck, I strode to where Brevan was watching Regner in the distance.

He fixed me with a long stare. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I didn’t bother replying to that. But I held out myhand, the blue jewel of the amulet winking in the sunlight.

His gaze dropped to it. And immediately flicked back up to mine. His eyes were wary.

“Take it.”

Three amulets.

Three of our most powerful fae.

Conreth had fallen. I had no idea if he was still alive. Rythos and Marth were gone, likely by his side. Hopefully they would return in time, but…

But this choice feltright.

Brevan swallowed, his expression saying without words what the action meant.

I was trusting him to use the amulet to kill our greatest enemy.

If he wanted, he could turn on us. But he’d listened to Rythos. He’d brought his people here to defend the fae.

Brevan’s eyes warmed. And he nodded at me, slipping the amulet over his head.

I nodded back, turning to find Prisca.

“That was a good thing you did.”

I tensed, my eyes meeting Telean’s.

She smiled at me. It was the same smile she always wore around me. Slightly perturbed, as if she still couldn’t quite understand exactly how her niece had ended up with the Bloodthirsty Prince.

But I knew no one else could see her.

Sorrow struck, thick and deep.

As deep as the vicious wound through her neck.

I hoped her death had been quick.

“It was you. The poison. The generals.”

“I spent every last coin I had on those ingredients,”she smiled. “Ameri was born for such tasks. But I knew only one of us would get out. I bargained with the gods to keep Nelayra alive, and I was always going to die today. I’m glad I died doing something that made a difference. Tell her to check Tibris’s healer’s bag.”

My chest clenched. This woman was braver than almost anyone on that battlefield. “Thank you. For keeping her alive.”

She bowed her head. “Look after our people, Your Majesty.”

My throat tightened. The title was more than an acknowledgment. From her, it was a priceless gift.

All I could do was nod. But Telean was already fading, her gaze on something beyond me. Beyond all of us. Her eyes lightened, her face turning radiant, and she suddenly looked like a young woman once more.

And then she was gone.

ASINIA