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Rather than feeling awe at the sheer majesty of this place, fury raged in her heart.

So much wealth had been put into making this throne room—resources that could have been allocated to helping others.

Finding her courage, she strode into the throne room after Elias, who followed Magnus and the queen. A glance over her shoulder told her that Hadeon and Jessamine stood behind her just inside the doorway.

“This once, I’ll not remark on your insolence, human,” Genoveva said in a dangerously low tone, turning from where she was at the base of the dais. “Despite your newly pointed ears, I know what you really are. Get out of my throne room before I?—”

“If I might make a request,” Magnus interrupted, which had the queen quieting. “I’d like for Enchantress Arabella and the others to join us. If that is acceptable to you, of course.”

Arabella frowned and might have objected to doinganythingMagnus wanted. However, if it meant that she’d remain near Elias, she’d gladly attend any meeting.

For a long moment, the queen said nothing as she studied the sorcerer. Then she walked up the dais. As she did, she flicked her fingers, and a wisp of magic shot across the throne room and closed the doors behind them.

Turning back to them, Genoveva lowered herself onto the throne, appearing as though she lounged atop a crescent moon. “I’ll permit it.”

“While we’re placing requests, I have one of my own,” Arabella snapped as she marched down the center of the throne room. It was an effort to keep control over the blackness filtering over her eyes and prevent her fangs from emerging as rage churned through her. She pointed a finger at Magnus. “He’s taken my mate hostage and tortured him for weeks. I can’t imagine what there is to discuss besides telling him to fuck right off.”

Sand trailed the floor behind her, and her dirty boots and leathers squeaked in the unnaturally quiet room. What felt like an eternity later, she came to stand at the base of the dais, opposite Magnus and Elias. A moment later, Jessamine and Hadeon were by her side.

Genoveva’s gaze settled on Arabella’s clawed fingertips. “I failed to hear a request.”

Get a hold of yourself,Arabella thought. She needed to get a leash on her anger if she had any hope of navigating whatever political labyrinth she’d stepped into.

Magnus raised his hand as Arabella opened her mouth to speak. “If I may provide context to Your Majesty.” He gestured to where Elias stood behind him. “Elias offered himself to me of his own volition. I wasn’t aware they were bonded. However, under the terms of our agreement, his life is mine.”

Arabella watched as one of Magnus’ hands disappeared in his robes before Elias spoke.

“He speaks the truth,” Elias said in a tone so cold, so emotionless, that it was nearly unrecognizable. “I offered myself to him.”

A sudden, hot fury seared in her veins.

Heisusing the syphen.

She’d suspected it, but to see it happen was something else entirely.

Instinctively, she reached for the shadows. But before she could unleash them, Hadeon caught her wrist.

Rather than telling him to fuck right off, she found herself looking up at the fae male.

Ever so slightly, he shook his head.

Don’t,his gaze said.

Did she dare trust him after everything? What if this was some trick, too?

A simple fact made her pause. She was woefully outnumbered.

Even with her new powers, she wouldn’t be able to take down Magnus, Genoveva, and the guards, steal the syphen, and escape the Twilight Court with Elias and Jessamine. But damn it, she wanted to try.

It took everything in her to not look over to where Elias stood behind the sorcerer. Even still, Elias’ presence alighted her senses with a static energy. She felt more alive than she had in the weeks they’d been apart. It was like he awakened something in her magic. Even the shadows rumbled at her feet, shifting like rolling waves.

“If I may be so bold,” Magnus said with a false humility infusing his voice. “I’d like to hear about their journey to the underrealm. I’ve never ventured to one, and I’m curious to learn more about it.”

For the first time, Arabella wondered whether the sorcerer intended to reveal how Hadeon had come to Elias’ castle and fought his army. Was that why he’d asked for them to stay—to reveal what Hadeon had done in front of the queen? Despite the prince’s claim that killing the ogres and gargoyles could be labeled as self-defense, Arabella had a feeling the queen wouldn’t see it that way. Not if it jeopardized whatever good will she had with the sorcerer. It was clear Magnus had the queen’s ear and that she possessed disdain for Hadeon. But why?

“As you wish.” The queen turned to her son with a gaze far colder than a mother should look at her child, her fingers drumming on the throne’s armrest. “Speak.”

A muscle pulsed in Hadeon’s jaw. “Recently, I heard rumors that the shadow fae may still be alive. When I’d heard of a gateway near the western tundra, I asked Enchantress Arabella to join me in a journey to the Abyss. As it turns out, it’s a one-way entrance into the underrealm.”