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My heart aches for her, for the tears carving silent, well-worn paths down her cheeks. “Your Majesty.” I bow my head in respect.

“Tell me, what has become of my son?” Despite her grief, the queen’s voice is strong.

I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Tonight, the drachen fully claimed him.”

Her brows raise in a silent question.

“Like possession.” I’m the center of attention as more nobles gather. “The healers say it’s akin to when a deity temporarily inhabits a mortal vessel. Only this is no god. It’s the drachen using him to spread their darkness.”

“Then they are intelligent? Not the mindless beasts we feared?” Queen Alannah sinks onto the couch beside me.

“Sterling was able to tell me that it spoke to him. Convinced him to do the things he did. When he attacked me, he said the world will know peace through bloodshed, and this time they can’t be stopped. He made it sound like they had plans.”

“Plans?” She crosses her ankles, her hands clasped in her lap.

“Conquest. Kingdom after kingdom, life after life. They don’t just want to feed. They want to rule. I don’t know who controls them, whether it’s Xenon, or someone else. All of this has happened so fast.”

She pales, silent for a beat before leaning close to me. “I know of your journey to find phoenix tears. It’s a lot to ask, but do you think you can end this corruption?”

“I hope so. But I haven’t tried it. There’s no guarantee it will work, and anything could go wrong. If it works on my sister…”

“I have faith in you.” She grasps my hand in her delicate ones. “You’ve had a trying day, I know. But I don’t think you should wait any longer to visit Leesa. Take guards trained against mental attacks. There are several in the hallway.”

The queen is right. Time is not on our side. “Of course, Your Majesty. I will do my best.”

With a nod, I rise, spurred into action by the queen’s unyielding spirit.

As I exit, I hear Alannah’s voice, steady and commanding as she dictates orders to royal guards. “Rescind Prince Knox’s orders from today, gather all documents he’s signed this past week, and bring them to me. And someone light the fire. It’s getting cold.”

The clatter of armor echoes in the halls as I lead the way to the dungeons, flanked by four guards. Each step is heavier than the last, my mind racing with doubts and fears. What if Leesa is beyond saving? What if it’s just a drachen puppeteering her corpse?

Can the corruption even be reversed?

Up ahead in the corridor, Agnar spots me and hurries to meet us.

His wings fold neatly as he joins our somber procession. “We couldn’t find him. But I’m here now for whatever you need.” He shoots a dubious glance at my throat. “You doing okay?”

“I’m still alive, and for now, I’m calling that a win.” I offer him a tight smile. “The healer checked me over, and then I spoke with the queen. She wants me to attempt to heal Leesa tonight.”

“Makes sense.” He falls into step beside me. “That way, you’ll know what you’re up against when we do find Sterling. And hopefully,” his voice softens, “you’ll have your sister back. Do you want me to have Bastian roused?”

I shake my head. “No. If shit goes wrong, he doesn’t need to witness it. But if this works, he can see Leesa afterward.”

We continue down several corridors, each one smaller than the last until we reach a heavyset door with two guards and four soldiers standing watch.

“By order of the queen, Lady Lark is to be admitted,” one of the guards behind me calls out.

With a clank of heels, the men standing guard move aside. The last two open the heavy door for us to enter.

The dirt cell is nearly identical to the one King Jasper threw me in not so long ago.

My sister sits on the floor in the corner, chains biting into her wrists. The sharp smile on her face is so unlike the sister I know, and her black eyes glint with something feral. She’s a nightmare made flesh, and I swallow down the bile that threatens to rise at the sight.

“Hey, sis.” Her lips stretch even wider in a mockery of a grin. “Did you come to play?”

“Leesa.” Her name catches in my throat as I draw closer.

“You cutting me off from the rest of my kind changes nothing. I know what must be done.” The words slither out of Leesa’s mouth in a taunting singsong, and a chill runs down my spine. “It’s almost time, dear little sister. How does the story go? Buried alive, unearthed only to die?”