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“Metias. Pavil,” Axel said, striding through the foyer but making sure he stayed between them and Katya. “Let’s go.”

“Of course. We certainly do not wish to be late,” Metias said as Pavil pulled open the front door.

It was Kat who opened the back door of the car that was parked out front, falling into the role of submissive Fae as naturally as breathing. He suddenly found he didn’t give a fuck what they were supposed to be portraying to the world. If this was going to be his last moments with her, they wouldn’t be spent like this.

His hand falling to her lower back, he bent and whispered, “Get in.”

She stiffened, but did as she was told, climbing into the backseat. He followed, pulling the door shut behind him. Pavil slid into the driver’s seat, and Metias the passenger one. Wisely, the pair didn’t say anything, and the drive to the manor was quiet.

Axel had never truly thought it would come to this. He’d always believed Theon would figure something out. Yes, he gave his brother endless shit about his asinine theories and obsessive reading, but he also knew it was those things that gave them the edge over their father.

Or at least he’d always hoped it would.

Theon had always figured things out, but not this time. And maybe it was his own fault for depending on him so godsdamn much.

The drive was somehow over in the blink of an eye, and he was reaching for the door handle. Pavil and Metias had already exited the vehicle, and before he pushed the door open, he turned to her.

Bright amber eyes.

Black curls framing her stunning face.

Jasmine, citrus, and spices.

Healthy and whole.

“I’m sorry, Kat. For everything that is about to happen. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” he said, hearing the defeated tone in his voice.

He saw the tears welling, but he didn’t wait. He couldn’t. He pushed open the door and stepped out, waiting while she did the same, before they followed Pavil and Metias up the stairs and into the manor.

They went straight through the foyer and down the hall to his father’s study. The manor was outfitted so similar to AriusHouse, Axel felt like he was in the Ozul Mountains with the dark walls and general lack of light despite a bright winter day outside. Eviana watched them all file in from her chair near his father’s desk. The dramatics of bowing and kneeling were done, and then he was sitting before his father. Pavil and Metias were on either side of him. Katya had been ordered to stand next to Eviana.

“I was surprised you didn’t want to reschedule,” Axel said, unable to stand the silence.

“Why would I do that?” his father asked, setting his pen down and leaning back in his chair.

Axel shrugged, settling his ankle over his knee. “Don’t you have meetings regarding the recent attacks in a few hours?”

“Two hours, to be exact,” Valter replied. “But the hearing tomorrow is why this meeting is happening.”

His brows rose as he held his father’s stare. “What do I have to do with the Tribunal hearing?”

“That blasted hearing shouldn’t even be happening,” his father said, shadows seeping into his irises. “It is all posturing and delaying the inevitable at this point.”

“Making sure proper procedures are followed doesn’t seem like posturing.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to understand. You were not raised to hold such a position, were you?”

At the pointed silence, Axel knew he was waiting for an answer. “No, that is not my role,” he said tightly.

“Exactly. However, itisyour brother’s role. He was supposed to have come up with a solution and has failed.” Gesturing in Kat’s direction, he continued. “He was supposed to be bonded to a new Source by this point. This godsdamn hearing shouldn’t even be happening.”

“He did everything he could. We all did. We researched for hours, and?—”

“I do not need excuses for his failures, Axel,” his father cut in. “Nor do I need excuses for yours.”

“Mine?” Axel repeated. “How, exactly, have I disappointed you this time?”

He winced at the flicker of power that washed over him, his shadows bristling beneath his skin. Of course ration day wasn’t for another two days. He had no doubt his father had planned this meeting to coincide with that.