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By the time the world righted, he was already on his feet, one hand on his sword, fury carved into every line of his face.

And then, behind him, Kato also stood in silent solidarity of her honor and their own.

Surprise flashed in Ainsley’s eyes. Maybe even fear. He’d expected Skye’s anger, but not Kato standing with him.

The other son of Ghislain. The fallen prince. A demi-Fey, but one whose wealth of aether still outweighed nearly everyone in the room. Ainsley had been counting on the malice that had always existed between the brothers so publicly to serve as a dividing line.

Now that line had vanished.

Sarina snarled, low, lovely, and just shy of combustion, “Careful, Ainsley.” Her fingers dug into the arm of her throne, smoke blooming where skin met wood. “Keep spewing filth like that, and I’ll show you what it feels like to burn from the inside out.”

The crowd was riveted, tension thick enough to choke on. People watched, yes, but they also leaned subtly back, hands twitching towards charms, eyes clocking exits.

Ainsley only scoffed. “They’re all crazy.”

Ivain turned his head, eyes flicking between the brothers. Then to Sarina, smoldering on the front row. Behind her, Aiden and Aimee glared daggers.

Finally, his gaze landed on Taly, still seated. Her back was starting to hurt from keeping it so straight.

Ivain smiled, all malice and sharp edges. Even the aether in the air shivered as the man they called Shadeslayer, White Fox, Warden of the Worlds, took a few easy steps across the room.

Strolling towards Ainsley.

Backing him up one step, then another.

Until the lordling finally found some speck of courage and planted his feet.

Ivain leaned in close. “The next time you insult my family,” he said softly, yet the words carried, “I will cut out your tongue.Then if you still do not remember your place, I will cut off your cock, and thathuman, the one that you so stupidly call mypet… I will allow her to feed it to you with a golden fork and a golden knife.Bite by bite.”

Oh, yes. Ainsley was definitely afraid now, though he wore it well, only allowing a single bob of his throat.

When Ivain glanced back at Taly, she played her part, tilting her head and grinning in vicious, feline delight at the prospect.

Ivain said to the room, “As I was saying, there is a plan in place.”

A dismissal. The lordling quietly seethed at the edge of the stage.

“Everyone here,” Ivain went on, “Fey and mortal alike, was scanned upon entry, so rest assured there is no danger of infection for any of those who have gathered here tonight.”

“For now,” Ainsley cut in. “But it has already taken root in the Fey population. Even now, Kalahad Brenin, one of our own, lay dying.”

Gasps from the crowd, some murmuring. That was not public knowledge yet.

Ainsley saw an opportunity and grabbed onto it. “How long until it begins to spread unchecked?”

A few voices echoedyeah,how long?in a ripple around the room.

“Given your particular tastes…” He glanced at Taly. “How can we be assured that you will lead with our interests in mind? That you will prioritizeFeylives. That you can be counted on to make the hard decisions to isolate the contagion.”

Ivain stood firm. “Every life has value.”

“Humans die,” the lordling countered, and he had them now. In his eyes, he knew he had the people’s fear and that fear properly wielded could burn just as hot as loyalty. “But you seem to have forgotten that. And would waste valuable time trying toprolong their mayfly lives, all so they can fuck and breed and produce more mouths to strain our resources. More bodies that will spread sickness through our ranks.

“Every life has value,” Ainsley boomed, now mocking Ivain’s own words, “but there is a natural order.”

There were more rumblings from the Fey as the Shardless above them grew restless. Some started to push while others moved towards the stairs as they felt the tide of opinion begin to shift. Fear was spreading, panic taking hold, and the crowd was standing shoulder to shoulder with barely any room to move.

This could get dangerous. Fast.