Page 156 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

I passed through the castle gates without trouble. The guards in the towers didn’t stir, their attention dulled by the late hour. I had no desire to return to my room. The thought of Riven or Jax noticing the strain on my face, the red-rimmed eyes, was too much.

Instead, I wandered through the grounds. Past the barracks, past the empty training rings, past the rows of flickering lanterns that lit the path toward the northern watchtower. The air was colder here, the wind sharper. I hadn’t even realized I was heading toward the battlements until I scaled the ladder and leaned over the edge.

The waves crashed violently below, white foam cresting the jagged rocks. I stood there for what felt like an eternity, just breathing. The burn in my chest hadn’t eased, but here—beneath the open sky with the wind biting my skin—I could finally feel something other than anger and betrayal.

Kaelith?I reached for her through our bond, but it was still faint, distant like an echo in a cavern. Whatever barrier she had erected was still in place.

There was no response, but I hadn’t really expected one.

The wind bit at my skin as I turned back toward the compound. The castle walls loomed ahead, dark and quiet against the night sky. But something felt off—a shadow shifting unnaturally near the outer gate. I squinted, stepping to the side of the path and blending into the shadows.

Figures. Three of them, moving in sync—too fluid, too precise to be common thieves. Their cloaks fluttered lightly in the night breeze, and when they circled closer to my barracks, my stomach clenched. My father’s people.

Damn it.

A soft whisper of wings rushed past my ear, followed by the thud of something heavy landing behind me. I spun, only to find Siergen’s dark wings folding against his back, his golden eyes fixed firmly on mine.

“I thought you were still on the isle,” I said, stepping closer.

I felt your distress.His voice curled in my mind.Your emotions rattle Kaelith.

I let out a bitter laugh. “She’s ignoring me. But my father banished me—and knowing him, he’s already working on a more... permanent solution.” My gaze flicked toward the figures weaving around my barracks. “I don’t think he’ll waste much time.”

That is not his decision,Siergen said firmly.That is Kaelith’s.

I scoffed. “She’s not talking to me.”

She has other concerns at the moment.

I tensed. “Is she all right?”

She will be.

That answer didn’t sit well with me, but I didn’t push. “She won’t be able to stop this. The Order doesn’t fail. But something doesn’t feel right. My father’s always been ruthless, but this... this feels bigger. Like someone’s pulling the strings—manipulating both him and the king.”

Then you need to speak with Hein’s rider.

I blinked. “His name is Zander.”

I know. Go to his room—I will help you navigate the castle guards.

“I don’t know where his room is,” I admitted.

It’s a few doors down from Princess Elara’s.

I frowned. “He isn’t on the top floor?”

He has a second room that he uses for certain functions.Siergen’s voice was calm but firm.

That struck me as odd, but there wasn’t time to dwell on it. The shadows were closing in on my barracks. They’d know I didn’t return soon and look elsewhere.

“Lead the way,” I said.

Siergen’s wings stretched wide, and with a powerful push, he soared into the sky. The gust from his takeoff whipped my hair around my face, but I kept my eyes on him, watching his sleek form circle high above the compound.

Wait.His voice rumbled through my mind.The battlements are clear on the ocean side. Go now.

I bolted, keeping low as I sprinted along the narrow walkway. My boots scuffed against the worn stone, but the wind swallowed any sound. No guards. Not a single one. The ocean churned below, the spray occasionally splashing the wall and dampening my grip as I clutched the edge for balance.