Page 105 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

“Bring him in. There.” She pointed to the nearest cot, and Zander helped me lower him gently.

Meri immediately began her work, summoning a soft glow of healing light into her palms as she pressed them to Dorian’s side. The bruised and torn flesh pulsed beneath the light, his chest rising more easily within minutes.

Zander looked around, frowning.

“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice hushed but hard.

Only then did I notice it, every healer in the room had their heads bowed, shoulders tight with grief or fear. None of them spoke. The air was too heavy.

Meri met Zander’s gaze wearily. “Two warders were killed while you were gone. Ambushed outside their tower.”

My blood ran cold.

“Our defenses are…” she sighed. “Weakened.”

Zander stepped closer to Dorian, brushing damp hair from his brother’s brow.

“Will he be alright?”

Meri nodded, still focused on her spell. “He’s stable. He’ll sleep the rest of the night, but he may be able to return to his quarters by morning.”

Just then, heavy boots echoed against the stone.

A guard appeared in the doorway, armor dark and slick with rain.

“The king has ordered the castle to go into lockdown,” he announced grimly.

I met Zander’s eyes, my heart sinking.

Zander turned from Dorian’s bedside, his jaw tight. “Take me to my father.”

The guard didn’t flinch. “The king is sleeping, my prince. Orders were left before he retired.” He adjusted the grip on his spear, clearly uncomfortable. “All returning riders are to report directly to the Court Inquisitor.”

Zander narrowed his eyes. “We were away on a rescue mission. No one in Thubia could’ve had anything to do with the warder deaths.”

The guard hesitated, then glanced at me, just for a breath, but it was enough to set my teeth on edge.

“The assassins were caught,” he said. “Three of them. One… claimed he was part of the Order of Thorn. Said his contact in Warriath was a rider.”

The silence that followed hit like a slap.

Zander stepped closer, voice low and dangerous. “And I suppose the inquisitor wants to see Ashlyn.”

The guard nodded. “Those were the Inquisitor’s instructions.”

Zander didn’t argue, but I felt it, the shift in the air around him. The temperature dropped.

We followed the guard out of the healer’s wing, but we didn’t speak aloud.

This is a witch hunt,Zander’s voice murmured into my mind, sharp and precise.

They’re not looking for the truth,I replied, matching his pace.They’re looking for someone to blame.

Theron,he said.This wasn’t my father’s order. He’s not well enough to issue anything this structured. This is Theron tightening his grip.

I agree,I said, watching the guards posted at every turn of the hallway.He’s waiting for an excuse to take command. To justify stripping us of power.

And he knows your history,Zander added.Your Order connection, it’s going to be enough for him, Ashlyn.