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Chairs scraped the floor as the men pushed away from the table. As they rose, they bowed, though Razan lingered.

“My king, I did not mean—” he began.

“You were not invited to speak,” Adrian said. “Though since you have endeavored to do so, let me be clear that your apology does not belong to me. It belongs to my wife. The very fact that you cannot see that is unforgivable.”

He paled at Adrian’s words, mouth pressed tight as he left the table.

Alone, Adrian’s hand came to rest on mine, which were clenched into fists in my lap.

“I am sorry,” Adrian said, thumb brushing over my knuckles. “Razan is a fool.”

“A fool, yes,” I said, my eyes burning, and I hated that the noblesse’s words had unleashed such a reaction within me. “But he is not wrong. I do not know how to connect with my magic.”

Adrian tipped my head back and I was forced to meet his gaze.

“Magic or not, you are no less valuable to me,” he said, and he leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss to my forehead. I closed my eyes, forcing down these emotions I did not want to have around something I could not control.

When Adrian drew away, his gaze was troubled.

“What is it?” I asked.

“You said that withThe Book of Dis, Ravena could resurrect the dead.”

“The magic contained within that book is powerful enough, yes,” I said. “If that is what she intends, I do not know.”

He was quiet for a moment and when he spoke, it was as if he were confessing. “Sorin found the gravesite of High Coven yesterday. It was empty.”

Empty?I straightened at his words, confused. “But…we wereburned.”

Adrian’s jaw tensed. “I took what was left of the bones and ash and buried them in a single grave,” he said. “I…couldn’t leave you unburied.”

I wanted to ask him why, but I didn’t. He had said the grave was empty, that someone had stolen what remained of my coven…ofme.

“What if Ravena intends to resurrect High Coven?”

I shook my head, a thickness gathering in my throat, making it harder to breathe. Ravena had worked too hard to kill us only to bring us back. No. There was no reason to seek the remains of witches, save for one purpose—she wanted our magic.

I met Adrian’s gaze. “Take me to the grave.”

Seven

Isolde

Adrian did not question my need to see the grave.

I was not even certain why I needed to see it, only that I did. I knew it was not where we had died. It was only where we had rested the last two hundred years, and perhaps that was why, because every other place in this land reminded me of my death.

Nothing reminded me of peace.

I changed into boots and pulled on a heavy, fur-lined cloak before joining Adrian in the courtyard where he waited with Shadow. Though as I started to leave the castle, I found he was not alone but stood opposite Daroc.

I lingered in the shadow of the doorway and listened.

“Given yesterday’s attack, I do not think it wise to venture into the forest alone,” Daroc said, displeasure lacing his tone.

“Your concerns are noted, General,” Adrian replied.

“And yet you ignore me in favor of what? Pleasing your queen?”