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“I know that. It’s not exactly a secret.”

“I told you I could help you get out of this. I can.”

“Okay? Are you finally willing to share what you know?” She hesitated. “Why are you so afraid of telling me?” I pushed. She had been keeping information from Malachi and I ever since we left Trithen. It was time for her to start talking.

“I’m not afraid of you,” she defended, “but Malachi won’t like what I’m going to say.”

I was officially interested. What was Esther so afraid of telling Malachi? What did she know?

“Whatever it is, he’ll be happy if it saves my life. Just tell me, Esther.”

“Fine,” she sighed. She leaned in. “It’s about a man named Silas. Has Malachi mentioned him?”

I fought through my brain fog to recall any mention of the name. Silas was the same man Malachi mentioned that practically raised him in the Paragon. Did Esther know? Did she know Malachi’s history with Silas? I decided to play dumb. “No,” I answered. “I haven’t heard of him.”

“Silas is the leader of the Paragon. He makes the rules. He calls the shots. If someone wants your power, it’s him. If members from the Paragon are showing up at our kingdom, it’s under his orders.”

“And why are you telling me this?” I pushed. “Why should I care about a man I’ve never heard of?”

“Because,” she started. “Silas and I grew up together.”

I blinked. “What? You grew up with the Paragon?”

Malachi and Esther had ties to the Paragon? This was becoming too odd.

She shook her head. “It wasn’t the Paragon back then. Silas was just a man. He wanted peace, and that’s where it all began. That’s where everything began, Jade.”

“So you’re friends with the leader of the Paragon? This could change everything, Esther. Why haven’t you brought this up before? Why hide it?”

She leaned back slightly, looking away from me in the darkness. “I wouldn’t exactly call us friends.”

The ground beneath us shook.

“What is this, Esther? You’re in my dream?”

“I can’t stay long. Don’t tell Malachi we spoke. When the Paragon comes for you, I’ll talk with Silas. I’ll make him understand.”

I didn’t have time to ask her any more questions. My vision faded to black, and everything went dark.

CHAPTER26

Jade

The coronation ball was more of a formality than anything. The castle wanted to celebrate Malachi becoming King of Rewyth, and any excuse for the fae of the castle to drink and party was seldom passed up.

I glanced at Tessa. Her bright blue gown practically illuminated against her skin. She had never been to a ball before, much less a fae coronation. Nerves tickled my stomach, but Tessa appeared to be calm. Calmer than usual, actually. She held her chin high and walked with promise as we approached the doors to the ballroom.

“Stay with me as long as you can,” I whispered. “When the coronation ends, I’ll come find you. Stay out of trouble, and find Serefin or Adeline if you need anything.”

Tessa found my hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “I’ll be okay,” she replied. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

I would never stop worrying about Tessa, but she didn’t need to hear that. Not before the party. Especially with Esther visiting my dreams, I had my guard up. There could never be a simple, boring event around Rewyth.

We approached the coronation, and the castle began stirring with life. Music flowed from the room, echoing off the stone walls and shaking my bones. The room already moved with fae dancing and celebrating, eager to participate in the event.

“Long live the King!” a few shouted as one song came to an end. The long strings of music easily flowed into another, and the dancers easily picked up where they left off.

I spotted Adeline and Malachi in the distance, both talking to fae I had never seen before. I couldn’t help but notice how formal they both appeared—much different than the versions of them I had grown to know. “Over there,” I whispered to Tessa.