Page 164 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

“What does that mean?” Riven asked.

“Kaelith isn’t sure,” I replied. “But she said if the Blood Fae are involved, then whatever they want—it’s tied to the Blood King.”

“Shit,” Jax muttered, setting his dagger aside. “The Blood King doesn’t move without purpose. If he’s targeting you, there’s a reason.”

“Could he want Kaelith?” Naia suggested.

I shook my head. “He wouldn’t need to use assassins to get to Kaelith—dragons can’t be compelled by Blood Fae magic.”

Zander’s gaze flicked toward Kaelith, who lay near the tree line, licking her talons clean. “What if he doesn’t want Kaelith?” he said slowly. “What if he wantsyou?”

“That doesn’t make sense,” I countered. “Why would the Blood King want a half-trained rider?”

“Because you’re not just a rider,” Cordelle said quietly. “You’re powerful, Ashe. We don’t even know what your magic is fully capable of yet. If the Blood King found a way to control you…”

I didn’t like where this was going. “Kaelith would kill me before I ever fell under his control.”

“That’s what worries me most,” Zander muttered. “If he’s sending assassins after you, it means he knows something we don’t. He’s either trying to take you... or kill you before you can stop whatever he’s planning.”

Silence stretched between us, thick and grim.

“Then we better figure it out,” I said firmly. “Because I don’t plan on dying—and I sure as hell won’t let him use me.”

Cordelle cleared his throat, the sound awkward and strained. He shifted in place, clearly uncomfortable, his gaze flicking from me to Zander and back again.

“What is it, Cordy?” I asked, my stomach tightening. Whatever it was, I knew I wasn’t going to like it.

He glanced warily at Zander again, as if debating whether to speak in front of him.

“You know that report... the one the royals received from Remand? The one about you being a... um…” His voice trailed off.

My cheeks heated, and I crossed my arms tightly across my chest. “Yeah,” I muttered. “I know the one.”

Cordelle swallowed hard. “Well... my father found the original report.”

I stiffened. “The original?”

He nodded grimly. “It didn’t say that. About... you being a virgin. That part wasn’t in there at all.”

I stared at him, trying to process what he was saying. “Wait... if it wasn’t in the original, then someone added it?” My mind raced. “Why would someone do that?”

Cordelle’s face paled a little. “I don’t know. But that’s not the only thing. The latest report had a lot more information than what Remand gave the king. Details about you... about the Order. Things that weren’t in the original version.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Like what?”

Cordelle shifted again, clearly uncomfortable. “Like... your healing ability. Lieutenant Saulter never reported that.”

My breath caught. “But... Remy knew. He saw me heal after a training session.” My mind spun as the pieces began to fall into place. “He knew, but he didn’t put it in the report?”

“Looks that way,” Cordelle confirmed quietly.

“Why would he cover for me?” I whispered. It didn’t make sense. Remy had betrayed me, lied to me—but hiding my healing ability? That wasn’t something someone like him overlooked by accident.

“Maybe he thought he was protecting you,” Zander said softly. I turned to find him watching me, his face carefully unreadable. “Or maybe he knew this would put you in danger.”

“Or maybe he was just saving it for leverage,” I countered bitterly. “He’s good at playing the long game.”

Cordelle closed the book he’d been holding, looking uncertain. “Whatever his reasons... it’s clear someone tampered with that report. And whoever did it, knew exactly what they were doing.”