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“You’re exaggerating.”

“You didn’t see how the village kids reacted to her.They’re frightened out of their wits every time she happens to cross their path.”

He studies me.“Why?”

“You know why.It’s because of the prophecy.Even our own mother acted in the name of that cursed prediction.”

“Only the supporters of the scrolls believe in the prophecy.”

“There are many in the palace,” I say dryly.“Mother and her advisor, for starters.Father and most of the royals.”

“But not Suno, not our siblings, and notallthe royals.”

“Great.”I pace the floor.“That eliminates a handful of people at most.”

He follows my agitated movement with his gaze.“That’s why we have to set a trap.”

I stop dead.“No.”My reply is harsh.“I will not use my mate as bait.It’s much too dangerous.”

He watches me with that habitual eerie expressionlessness in his eyes.“Do you have a better plan?”

I grit my teeth because I don’t.As much as I hate to admit it, we’re at a dead end.Whoever is trying to kill Elsie, for whatever reason, isn’t going to give up.The multiple attempts on her life are proof of that.He’ll continue until he succeeds.

My power surfaces at the thought, anger pushing up inside me until cracks run through the walls and every window in the room explodes.

Kian stands motionless in the midst of the chaos, not showing any reaction to my loss of control.Anyone else would’ve condemned me or told me how this little demonstration plays into the hands of the believers.His lack of emotion serves to calm me, helping me to force the uninvited violence down.

Neither of us says anything as I mend the cracks and fix the windows.If only it were that easy to fix the problems I’m facing.I haven’t even started on the slave-trading operation yet.Elsie remains my priority.I won’t rest until I find the enemy trying to hurt her.

“How do you want to move forward?”Kian asks.

Knowing I can trust my brother, I put him in charge of the investigation while I kept Elsie in Marikanea.I’d hoped he would’ve sniffed out the perpetrator by now, but if he’s right and someone is clever enough to twist the truth in their memories, we have to change tactics.

“I want every person in the palace watched,” I bite out.“I want to know everything about everyone, down to what they eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”

“You want me to put spies on the royals?”

I give him a hard look, leaving no doubt about my meaning.“Everyone.”

“That’s plenty of Alit.We’ll need a lot of spies.”

My chuckle is wry.“I’m not increasing the risk by bringing more people into the palace, and I don’t trust anyone except for the guards I vetted myself.Present company excluded, of course.”

“So who will handle this?”

I grip his shoulder.“You, me, and a few guards.”

He lets out a long breath.“You should consider pulling Vitai and Gaia in.There’s too much ground to cover for just the two of us.”

I pull my lips back into a dark grin.“Who needs sleep?”I didn’t enhance my senses to hear and see through walls for nothing.

A portal appears in the center of the floor.Jaw ticking, I release Kian.

My mother steps through the portal with Tarix short on her heels.“Aruan.”She nods in greeting, wisely not trying to hug me.

I’m not sure how long it’s going to take before I can forgive her for what she did.Maybe an eternity.

“They told me you were home.”Her smile is stiff.Uncertain.“How was your visit?”