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But Magnus’ power…

It boomed throughout the room like a thunderclap.

Power cascaded off the edges of his robes like an extension of him. It was like he stood at the eye of a hurricane that he could command at will. It moved around him in scarlet waves. Once, it had appeared as a gray mist, and she wondered what this change could mean. Most magic wielders’ abilities were only discernible by other wielders. However, Magnus’ power was so vast, so unfathomable, that it was visible to the naked eye.

Her heart sank as she realized that, even with her new abilities, his power vastly exceeded hers.

What was happening? Why were Magnus, Elias, and the erox in the fae realm? Had they sought an audience with the queen?

Some distant part of her knew she should be quiet, knew she should watch and assess as things played out. But rage filled her, and words tumbled from her lips.

“You keep questionable company, Your Highness.” Her insides roiled like a tempest about to be unleashed.

Hadeon stiffened before falling completely still. Even Jessamine didn’t dare move as they all awaited the queen’s response.

“You are deeply mistaken if you think I care for your opinion,child. You’re lucky I deigned to let you live.” The queen’s tone snapped like a whip. “The sorcerer is here with a proposition I intend to hear.”

Arabella’s mind reeled.

What could Magnus possibly want? Did this have something to do with another fae war or the queen’s pursuit of immortality?

“Mother,” Hadeon began, taking a step forward so he was between Genoveva and Magnus, forcing her to look at him. “There is much we need to discuss that can’t wait.”

“You went into an underrealm without consulting me,” the queen said. “If you value my insight so little, then I fail to see why I should prioritize yours. Whatever it is can wait.”

If Arabella’s eyes hadn’t been fixed on Elias, she might have missed it. But as she watched Elias, she noted a very distinct, very long blink at the queen’s words when she mentioned the underrealm. It was the most expression she’d seen on his otherwise cold exterior.

At the same time, fear spiked down the mating bond.

Since she’d last seen Elias in the in-between, she lived in terror of what Magnus was doing to him and if he’d broken her mate—stripping him of all he’d been and leaving him as a shell of himself. Perhaps even taking his memories like the Witch of the Woods had done to her.

But at the mention of the Abyss, Elias had felt fear, which meant he not only knew what the underrealm was, but he worried for her safety. He wasn’t ignoring her out of indifference or because he didn’t recognize her. Magnus must be controllinghim with the syphen. Had the sorcerer found the blade she’d dropped in the forest?

Fury roiled through her, and her leash on her shadows shortened.

If Magnus was holding the syphen beneath his robes, he could force Elias to do anything.

Even hurt himself.

Magnus swept an arm forward. As he did, she thought she spotted the glint of a blade. “If this isn’t a good time, I’m happy to return at your convenience…”

“No.” The queen placed a hand on Hadeon’s chest, forcing him to step back. “Now is the perfect time.”

Dipping his head in deference, Magnus followed the queen into the adjacent throne room. Elias was at his heels, moving with near-silent footsteps.

Arabella wasn’t about to be parted from him. So, she strode after Elias—as though she had every right to be in a private meeting with the queen of the Twilight Court.

To her surprise, Elias paused in the doorway. She tried to stop, but she bumped into him from behind, his shoulder brushing hers. The touch was like electricity shooting down to her toes, and she gasped. But as she started to look up at him, he walked forward, not looking back.

It was then she got her first look at the throne room.

Part of her had expected more of the similar opulence she’d seen in the castle hallways, but it felt like she’d stepped atop a still lake that reflected the starry night sky. The floor was made of dark, glittering tiles with swirling illustrations of moons. She couldn’t tell if the images were painted within the dark tiles or if magic had been imbued in them.

The room itself was long and had at least a dozen archways on each side with columns wider than most tree trunks in the forest outside Shadowbank. Near the base of the columns was aledge that held candles of varying heights. They emitted a soft glow in a room that felt infused by starlight.

Guards were stationed beneath each archway.

At the opposite end of the room was a dais with steps that led to a throne made of a clear crystal with twisting silver patterns that swept up on either side until it formed a skewed crescent moon ten feet high.