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He needed more leverage. He needed more people.

He needed his wife and her new compatriots.

A few hours later, Arrik was roused from slumber by a knock on his door, then the light of a torch approached when someone let themselves in. His eyes flashed open while he wrenched out the dagger he kept beneath his pillow, believing for a moment that another assassin had been sent to dispatch him. Then he spotted the scar-covered face of his second-in-command, Shane.

He pushed back the covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed, glaring at Shane.

“Don’t come sneaking in like that,” he growled. His empty stomach clawed at him, telling him it was well past time to eat.How long was I asleep?“I could have killed you.”

Shane chuckled as he closed the door. “I wouldn’t consider knocking repeatedly and then waving a torch in front of your eyessneaking in, you fool. You were completely out of it. If I were one of your brother’s assassins, you would be dead.”

Arrik rubbed a hand over his face. “I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”

“You haven’t been sleeping well for as long as I’ve known you.”

“Thanks for that. Any news?”

Shane’s scars were slick and shiny in the light of the fire. They were one of the reasons Arrik knew the man would always fight with him to take down the entire corrupt Verlantian monarchy. It was the reason he got the scars, after all. They twisted around his mouth, frightening and grotesque, when Shane grinned.

“The rebels have moved to Lord Idril’s estate, as you expected.”

“Is the Dragon Princess with them?”

Shane nodded. “They arrived last night.”

“Does Idril know who she is?”

“I’m not sure. Some of our contacts seem convinced he does. Others believe him too drugged-out to have caught on to it yet.”

“Good. That’s good. Soren wants me totake careofIdril. I told him I’d leave today.”

“Surely you need to rest, Arrik,” his friend protested, concern coloring his face even through his scars. “It’s the middle of the night already.”

But he was already on his feet. “I have rested enough, and it will take close to a week to reach Idril’s castle. If I leave now, I’ll be able to catch him by surprise at the end of one of his ridiculous revels.”

“If you’re sure,” Shane murmured, sounding unconvinced but ready to obey regardless. “I’ll arrange the horses.”

Arrik splashed cold water on his face and changed his clothes as he concocted a plan of what he’d do upon arrival at Lord Idril’s estate. He knew he couldn’t afford to mess things up when he got there, and that he’d only have one chance to both deal with the dark elf and get Wren out before Idril got his hands on her.

His wife was key to everything, and everyone knew it.

The key to a successful rebellion, the key to uniting the Dragon Isles…

The key to overthrowing Soren and Arrik successfully ascending the Verlantian throne.

She would change everything.

Theywould change everything.

19

WREN

“I’m not wearing this.”

Vienne stared Wren down. “You don’t have a choice.”

“I can’t—”