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The flames lit Armen’s face, painting shadows across it. “Domitius never does anything by accident. He was always going on and on about the knowledge that Frenzia had, knowledge which he wanted. Perhaps this dragon-puppy thing is what he wanted access to.”

“If that’s the case . . .” Dani began, but her words fell off.

She didn’t need to finish her sentence, though. Everyone already knew what she was going to say: if that was the case, the wedding was only the beginning.

When the Frenzian castle became open to Domitius, all the information he wanted would be his for the taking. If the wrangler was right, the Frenzians were already creating more of those creatures. And as gentle as the creature had been with him, Graeson was not naive enough to believe that the dragon-puppy wasn’t a natural-born predator. If it truly was a mutation of a dragon and a wolf, he knew they hadn’t seen the full extent of the creature’s wrath. Wolves played the long game, testing their prey, waiting for the perfect time to strike. They could sense any weakness or vulnerability. Dragons were no different based on the myths Graeson had heard as a child. They could smell the fear that poured out of their prey’s skin. They thrived off it.

According to the stories, dragons had once owned the skies. They were on the top of the food chain, but the dragons had disappeared with the gods. Now, they were little more than legends.

With the existence of the kraken in the Red Sea, Graeson knew better than to doubt the truth in those stories.

Still, with no one having seen dragons for centuries, it prompted the question: how did the Frenzians create the creature? Because there was no doubt in Graeson’s mind that the Frenzians had made it.

Moris was right; the creature was otherworldly. Too unique to be a natural occurrence.

As Graeson stared at the fire, thinking about the consequences of the Frenzians’ creation, the fire breathed, and the charcoals burned bright. In their presence, the dragon-puppy hadn’t breathed out fire like its predecessors, and Graeson hoped they would never find out if the creature could.

“So, now that we are only days away and know that Frenzians are keeping plenty of secrets,” Ellie said as she ripped off a bite of the cooked rabbit, “are you finally going to tell us how exactly you will accomplish this?”

Eyes bounced across the circle, but no one moved to speak.

Graeson cracked his neck. They had avoided the specifics of their plan for a while. Graeson was aware that they couldn’t avoid it forever, but he still wasn’t ready for the question. The Tetrians knew plenty, but they didn’t know everything.

“The less you know, the better,” Graeson said.

Ellie pointed the meat at Graeson. “Enough of the bullshit, Gray. Do you think we are that daft?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You may have the other kingdoms fooled, but some of us remember.”

“Ellie,” Medenia snapped, but Ellie pressed on.

“No, we are not pretending anymore. If a war is coming, we need to be honest with one another. We need to know who our allies are. They need to know.”

“Know what?” Dani asked, leaning forward.

Ellie rolled her eyes. “We know.”

“Knowwhat?”

Medenia groaned but didn’t stop Ellie from continuing; she only shook her head softly, her gaze falling to the dancing flames.

“About your gifts.”

No one moved, no one spoke. A breeze swept through the campsite, and an eerie chill grazed Graeson’s cheek and ruffled the few fallen leaves.

Sylvia broke the silence. “Excuse me? What did you just—”

“Isaidwe know about the gifts you have been granted.”

Dani snorted, leaning back on her palms. “I mean, we are gifted warriors, but that is no secret. Although it is kind of you to admit it finally.”

Ellie quirked a brow and chucked a piece of meat at Dani. Dani caught it in her hand, and with a wink, she tossed it into her mouth.

Ellie groaned. “That is not what I mean, and you know it. You may have the other kingdoms fooled, but some of us remember.”

Dani leaned over to Graeson and whispered so only he could hear. “They’re bluffing. Queen Marina wiped their memories.”