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"Here," she whispered, stopping before a door marked with a crest of thorned vines wrapped around a crescent moon. "Lord Skaldvindr always leaves early to avoid?—"

The door swung open. A tall man emerged—the one I had seen at the conference. The one wearing a black dress suit with silver embroidery—the same look he had on tonight. He paused at the sight of us, his eyes narrowing first at Effie, then settling on me with sudden, sharp interest.

"Lady Eirfalk," he said smoothly. "What an... unexpected pleasure."

"Lord Skaldvindr." Effie looked up at the man. "We need to speak with you."

"I'm afraid I have other obligations?—"

"About your vote," Vexa cut in. His expression hardened instantly.

"I don't believe my family's political decisions are any concern of the Umbra." His gaze swept over our group with calculated dismissal. "Or of foreign prisoners."

Aether stepped forward, his body now rigid, taking up the entirety of the door as Skaldvindr stumbled a few paces back. "She's a Duskbound," he growled in such a low register, I almost couldn't hear his words.

A flash of emotion crossed the noble's face—too quick to read. "Is she?" His voice dripped with skepticism. "How convenient. Just when Valkan forces our hand, you produce anothersolution."

"You've seen what his Damphyre do," Effie pressed. "What they are. Is that really the salvation you want for your people?"

Lord Skaldvindr's jaw tightened. For a moment, conflict flickered across his eyes. "What I want," he said carefully, "is to keep my people alive. Valkan's lands still produce crops. His people still have essence. While the rest of us..." He gestured sharply at the air around us, at the perpetual twilight beyond the windows. "We're dying. All of us. Would you have me ignore a solution simply because you find it distasteful?"

"We're offering you an alternative," Vexa said.

"You're offering me nothing but words. And as you might recall, I don’t put much trust in the sanctity of traditions of this realm." His voice turned sharp. "Prove it. Show me this supposed Duskbound power. Show me she's worth more than Valkan's immediate aid." He looked directly at me then, and the weight of his gaze felt like drowning. "Show me you're more than just another Umbra deception."

My throat closed. The walls seemed to press in, the shadows deepening at the corners of my vision. Everything they'd said about Valkan, about the realm's desperation, about what would happen if he gained more power—it all crashed over me at once. And now this man was staring at me, waiting for me to prove I was worth choosing over the monster who could save his people.

"I—" The word caught in my throat. My chest felt too tight. My breath came in short gasps. The room started to spin.

"Fia?" Vexa's voice sounded distant.

"I need—" I stumbled back a step. "I can't?—"

Skaldvindr gave Aether one last skeptical look before slamming the door closed.

"Aether!" Urkin's voice boomed from down the corridor, making me flinch.

"I need air," I choked out. "I have to go?—"

"Take her," Aether ordered, his eyes meeting Rethlyn's. Something passed between them—some unspoken understanding. "We'll handle this."

Rethlyn's hand replaced Aether's on my arm, gentler but just as urgent as he guided me away from the nobles' boxes. The corridors blurred past, my vision swimming at the edges. I couldn't get enough air. Couldn't think past the roaring in my ears.

We burst through a side entrance, the gray twilight a shock after the dim corridors. My legs gave out and I slumped against the stone wall, sliding down until I hit the ground.

"Let me–" Rethlyn started, taking a step toward me.

"Don't," I gasped, throwing up a hand. "Don't use your tether. Don't try to calm me." My voice cracked.

But the panic wouldn't release its grip. My chest constricted until each breath was a battle, spots dancing across my vision. And then—somethingshifted. A sensation ripped through me, like my insides were being hollowed out.

"Fia?" Rethlyn's voice wavered.

Horror froze me as I felt it start. Shadows began pouring from his void burns, but not like Vexa’s from before. This was violent. Hungry. They twisted through the air toward me like they were being yanked by invisible hooks.

"What's happening?" My voice came out strangled as the darkness flooded into me. I tried to move, to break whatever connection had formed, but my body wouldn't respond. "Make it stop—I can't?—"

"Fia!" Rethlyn's cry sent terror shooting through me. He tried toscramble away but remained locked in place, shadows ripping from him faster now. I could feel his fear mixing with mine, could feel him weakening with each second.