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"It's not a threat. It's an inevitability." My voice carried steel now. "Umbrathia is growing restless, people are becoming desperate. There's not many other ways for this to end."

Laryk's emerald eyes moved to Aether, studying him.

"You understand the weight of what you're asking me to do." His words hung heavy in the air. It wasn't quite a question.

"I do." I met his gaze. "And I wouldn't be asking if I thought there was any other way."

He stared at me for the longest time, his face morphing slightly as something warred within him. A part of me wanted to reach out and comfort him, to save him from the pain he was feeling, but the thought of it was selfish and cruel. Not when it would mean something to him that it didn't for me.

Finally, he nodded.

"If I agree to this, all attacks from your realm must cease. Immediately," he spat the words in Aether's direction.

"We haven't attacked in months. Not since the night we found her." Aether's voice was deadly calm.

Laryk's lip curled. "You want an alliance, yet you continue to lie."

I turned to Aether, but his expression mirrored my confusion.

"The last one was quite horrific." Laryk's voice dropped lower. "Different than your normal game of shadows. An entire settlement wiped out, throats slit, drained of blood, their bodies left coating the ground.Civilians."

The realization hit me like a physical blow. Draxon's soldiers. Valkan hadn't been lying. They had been here.

Aether's jaw went rigid as our eyes met in silent understanding.

"That wasn't us." His voice was a low rumble.

"Valkan—a disgraced Lord. He led an army of rebels who sought to end this war themselves, by any means necessary," I said. "He does not represent the views of the rest of Umbrathia."

"A brutal massacre, nonetheless." Laryk's hand tightened on his dagger, his eyes never leaving Aether. "Committed by monsters fromyourrealm."

"They're taken care of." Aether took a dangerous step forward. "Their leader is gone."

"Convenient." Laryk matched his advance.

Shadows deepened beneath Aether's skin. "I killed him."

"And I'm supposed to take your word for it?"

"He did it to save me." The words rushed out before I could stop them.

"To save you?" Something changed in Laryk's voice as his eyes swept over me, falling on my neck. His gaze caught on the scars beneath Narissa's fresh burns—evidence of Valkan's torture still etched into my skin.

Something cracked in his expression before rage flooded his features. He whirled on Aether. "You let this happen to her?" The words came out as a snarl, his knuckles white around the dagger's hilt.

The accusation struck Aether and I could see him physically recoil as his golden eyes fell to the floor.

"Laryk." I moved between them again. "It's not his fault. And we are running out of time. You don't have to worry about Valkan's men anymore. We will take care of them. And if you agree to work with us, there will be no more attacks. You have my word."

Laryk sighed, turning to grip the edge of his desk. "Even if I wanted to believe you, you can hardly make promises for the actions of an entire realm. An entire army. You don't have that kind of authority."

For the first time, I felt the weight of my birthright settle over me like armor. "Yes. I do."

Confusion rippled across his face.

"She outranks our Generals." Aether's voice flowed past me, settling on Laryk.

"My father, the Kalfar I told you about?" I took a steadying breath. "He was the son of the ruling Queen."