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Dukovich’s back straightened, his skin blanching at the sound of my words.

“How is that possible?” he said, his voice lethal—quiet.

“I’ll tell you everything, Dukovich. But not here, we need to get you home.”

I recoiled at my own words, at the sound of calling Locdragoon his home. But it was his home now, it was the only place in the five realms he was safe after what he had done, and for a split second I felt sadness for him. Sadness that he had given up everything just to be hated—to be hunted.

His hand fell into mine, and as our skin connected, the tether ripped us into it. He squeezed my hand a little tighter as we whirled through the ether, landing in the center of the throne room.

I ran to the war rooms the moment my boots connected with solid ground. My body slammed against the door as I burst in,the wood cracking so hard against the stone wall that scrolls fell from their places on the shelves.

Three pairs of eyes snapped toward me.

“We have a fucking problem,” I panted as Asrai stood and rushed over to me.

“Are you hurt?” she asked, examining me then eying Dukovich with suspicion.

I shook my head as the sound of tethering filled the throne room at my back. I stepped out of the doorway, gesturing my head over my shoulder as Asrai rushed past me.

Elric and Wren shot to their feet, racing after Asrai as I sucked in a sharp breath, then finally turned. Pri stood in the middle of the throne room, a frenzied look in her eye as Brakan clutched his side at her feet.

A snarl sounded from Asrai’s lungs as she lunged for him.

Wren tethered in front of Pri a split second before Asrai made it to Brakan and threw his arms out.

“Move,” Asrai growled. It was a command but Wren didn’t flinch at it.

“No, Asrai. I cannot let you harm him—not yet. I need to interrogate him first.” Wren responded, his voice calm, though a warning laced his tone.

Asrai took a sharp step toward Wren, her shoulders squaring. “Move, or I will move you, child.”

“Touch Wren—touch Brakan—and you will find yourself in a cell,” Elric hissed and my head snapped to him in shock.

I had never seen him hold such a commanding air. It shouldn’t surprise me, but he had always been so gentle around me that I forgot there was a reason Landers had made him the commander of his armies.

“What is going on?” Wren snapped, looking at me like this was somehow my doing. Annoyance bubbled in my chest at theassumption that this mistake was mine, but I couldn’t blame him.

My lips pressed into a firm line as I lifted a brow and glanced toward Pri. His head swiveled toward her in surprise as she began to speak.

“I thought I could trust him, Wren,” she blurted, wrapping her fingers around Wren’s forearm.

“You foolish child,” Asrai scolded.

Wren threw his hand up, his eyes narrowing on Asrai with disdain before pulling his gaze back to Pri and gesturing for her to continue.

I slowly backed away from the group as Pri recounted everything that had happened in the last day and a half. For the first time, it was not my mistake that was under scrutiny and I was going to take advantage of the fact that all eyes werenoton me.

We’d been so busy before leaving for Ammord that I hadn’t been able to make it to Yenne’s shop to pick up my tonic and I desperately needed it.

I turned my back as I neared the entrance to the throne room and strode through the doors, a smug look plastered on my face. It’s not that I wanted Pri to be in trouble for this, I was just glad it was not me.

“Ataliia.” Eric’s voice rang in the empty corridor and I groaned at the sound.

“What?” I snapped, turning my chin over my shoulder as he slipped from the throne room and took a few quick steps to my side.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice painfully sincere.

“Yes, Elric. I’m fine,” I answered, trying to hold back the growing irritation.