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“I don’t see how it’s relevant.”

“I do if it went against direct orders from your King.”

“I never went against any direct orders,” I said firmly, hoping it would end the line of questioning.

“I know you’re lying to me. Something about this isn’t adding up. So explain again before I take my suspicions to the King.”

So, that’s the way it would be.

I glanced at Zaria, and she nodded. My brother was dead, my father was dead… There was no reason to hold on to this secret any longer.

“Kol and I shared a twinship bond. A very powerful one. We could always communicate with one another.”

Octavian’s eyes bulged, and then he slit them as he processed all the times we’d somehow known things we shouldn’t have, or covered for each other, I was sure. “You lied your entire lives?”

“No, we never lied. No one ever asked.”

Octavian seethed. “This would have been invaluable information to help the Twelve Kingdoms, and you kept it from us?”

“Our father, the general, instructed us to guard our secret. And as Head of the Dragon Council and our alpha, I do believe he had the authority to make that call.” I got to my feet. “I don’t know why you pretended to hold his office with care, nor why you are suddenly against me assuming my rightful place, but it does not sit well with me. I need?—”

Zaria cut me off, speaking quickly mind to mind. “Nyx! Look at the letter on his desk. Look at the seal. He had it covered when we came in, but when he took that piece of paper off his desk, it uncovered the others, and you can see the corner...”

I scanned his desk, looking for what she was talking about. “What? Where? What are you talking about?”

Octavian glanced between us. “What are you two discussing in private?”

“The symbol!” she said, strain in her mental voice.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about...”

“I demand you stop it!” Octavian hit his desk with both hands.

Zaria jumped up and snatched the paper from the desk between his palms, pointing at the symbol. The same one that was on all the bags of Dragon’s Bane.

I moved in front of Zaria. “You’re involved in this?”

He didn’t deny it. He lifted his chin, assessing me. “Yes.”

The only reason my hands weren’t around his throat was because I wanted to know why. I didn’t understand his connection. “Why did you send him?”

“Because I knew you two were closing in on your meld, and good old Kol was helping you along. I had to weaken you… but I didn’t foresee this turn.” His tone carried so much smug satisfaction.I’d kill him.

“What is your business with the Vivi Mortui? Are you the one supplying the Dragon’s Bane? Is this about money?”

Octavian laughed slowly, getting to his feet. “This isn’t a fairy tale where I spill my guts, boy. You have no business in the position you are in. You have no idea how the Twelve Kingdoms function. You are too naive to hold the position you do. Your father knew how things worked.”

My hand found my pommel, and I drew my sword. “My father was honorable.”

“Maybe, maybe not. But he wasn’t ignorant.” Octavian took a half step back.

“Stay where you are. You will face the King.”

He laughed, turning to dive out the window behind him.

Zaria and I sprinted around the desk in time to see Octavian shift into his dragon form.

Before I could follow, Zaria grabbed my arm.