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He howls and swears at me, spitting out curses with saliva.

“He’s of no use to us,” I say.“I’ll take him to the cell where I can melt him slowly over days.”

“No melting,” he whines.“No more melting.”

I put my face in his and melt a thumb.“That’s for the repetition.”

“It was Arix,” he screams.“Arix!Arix makes the portals.Arix!”

My mother and I look at each other.

“There’s no Arix in Lona,” my mother says.“That’s not even a name.”

“Yes,” the Phaelix cries.“Arix!”He resorts to sobbing.“Arix.”

It hits me at the same time as my father slowly says, “Tarix?”

“Yes!”The Phaelix bounces on his knees.“Arix.Arix.”He points a finger at my father.“Arix.”

My mother stumbles back a step, her cheeks deathly pale.

“Tarix?”Elsie says as if she has to push the name from her lips.

My father wipes a hand over his brow.My mother walks with stilted steps to the table.She trips over her own feet but rightens herself and carries on.She’s like a dead person, mechanically lifting a carafe and pouring wine into a goblet before downing the drink in one go.

“That son of a dragon,” my father says through clenched teeth.

Cold fury pushes up inside me.“Where is he?”

My mother whirls around.“Why would he do that?What could he get out of such an act of treason except a painful execution?”She looks at my father.“Do you believe him?”

Anger draws stark lines over my father’s face.“Why would he lie?”

I drag the Phaelix to his feet.“I’ll throw him in the cell, and then I’m going to get some answers.Where is he—Tarix?”

“I don’t know,” my mother says.“We finished our official business this afternoon.He could be anywhere in the palace.”

I exchange a look with my father.“Don’t let anyone leave.”

He sheathes his dagger.“I’ll tell Kian, Vitai, and Gaia.”

I don’t bother dragging the sack of shit through the hallways.I hold out a hand to Elsie and open a portal.We enter it, dragging the Phaelix along, and exit on the underground level where the cells are located.We haven’t used them in many moon cycles.There was never any need.

I throw the Phaelix into one of the cells.He kneels on the floor, cradling his injured hand against his chest while spitting and snapping his teeth.Not sparing him another glance, I close the archway and place a seal on the cell to prevent him from leaving and anyone else from getting in.We don’t want a rescue party—such as Tarix—to free him.

My heart is like ice in my chest as I lead Elsie upstairs.My mother trusted Tarix.I didn’t like him, but I never suspected a thing.He hid his talents well.

Once we exit on the level of the Great Hall, I head straight to Tarix’s quarters, only to find them empty.

I stop a servant who walks past with a pile of clean bath sheets in his arms.“Have you seen Tarix?”

“Your Highness.”The servant bows.“He left earlier this evening to visit the sacred site.”

Of course.With a free pass from my mother, Tarix is a regular there.He’s one of the staunch believers.

Gaia comes running up, her face drawn and pale.“Mother just told me.She’s pulling up portals, trying to find him.What can I do to help?”

“Search the palace.”I turn Elsie to me with my hands on her shoulders.“Will you help her?”