Page 110 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

“And what is that?” I asked, the cold already settling into my bones.

Solei shook her head slowly.

“I don’t know.”

The wind had grown colder, sharp with night air as we lingered by the gate, the conversation shifting from old wounds to the deeper war brewing beneath us.

“They’re playing a long game,” I said, arms crossed, eyes on the shadows shifting just beyond the torchlight. “They’re not trying to win fast, they’re trying to erode us. From the inside out.”

Solei nodded slowly, her eyes narrowed in thought. “It takes more than strength to dismantle a kingdom. It takes access. Connections in the court. The guilds. Even the Orders.”

I turned toward her. “So what are we saying? The Blood Fae have built a network?”

“Or they’ve inherited one,” she replied. “Cyran believes there’s a mole. Someone embedded deep in the Order itself.”

My stomach turned. “Remy,” I said, almost before I could stop myself.

Solei didn’t flinch. “No. Not him.”

I raised a brow.

“He infiltrated us, yes,” she admitted, “but that’s not the same. We’ve done the same thing, placed spies in courts, in guilds, in royal guardhouses. Remy’s different.”

“He would never help the Blood Fae,” I said firmly, the truth of those words settling like iron in my chest.

“I know,” she said, almost too quickly. “Even Cyran knows. That’s why we’ve never put a hit on him.”

“Because he’d kill the assassin,” I muttered.

Solei smirked. “That’s true too.”

The corner of my mouth twitched, but it didn’t hold.

Because the truth was colder than the wind.

If the Blood Fae had someone inside the Order feeding them information, then whoever it was had been playing this game longer than any of us realized.

And they were winning.

“Is there anything else I should know?” I asked.

Solei shook her head. “I will contact you if I have any more relevant information. I hope you will do the same.”

“I will,” I turned to go.

“Ashe, wait.” Her hands fisted at her sides when I glanced at her. “I never lied to you. I do love you.”

“I love you too. That’s why it hurt so damn much.” I strode toward my barracks as something flew above me, blocking the moon.

Chapter

Twenty-Five

Ipaused just before the door to my barracks, hand resting on the worn wood, the torchlight casting long shadows along the stone floor.

My mind reached instinctively for the bond.

Kaelith?