Page 131 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

“And now we’ve got whispers about some rebellion,” Naia muttered from her cot. “Commoners rising up. Trying to gather magic users.”

“Or protect them,” Cordelle said from his bunk, eyes sharp in the dim light. “If the king is as unstable as we fear, maybe they’re not rebelling. Maybe they’re preparing.”

Riven snorted. “You think they’re just going to wait until the castle eats itself and then swoop in to take over?”

“Would it be that hard?” Ferrula asked. “If our own court can’t keep its heir safe and the warders are dying? What would it really take to crumble the whole thing?”

I looked down at the sweetbread in my hand and suddenly didn’t feel hungry anymore.

“They’re not trying to win a war,” I murmured. “Not yet. They’re watching one unfold.”

The silence that followed wasn’t just thoughtful.

It was heavy.

Because deep down, I think we all knew?—

We were already standing on the fault line.

We talked for a while longer, our voices low in the flickering firelight. The conversation drifted from rebellion whispers to Kaelith’s newest grumbles, and Cordelle’s theories about dragonlineage, but even that eventually dulled beneath the weight of exhaustion.

I yawned mid-sentence, and Riven laughed. “Alright, Ashe, time to get your beauty sleep.”

I rolled my eyes, dragging myself up. “Fine, fine. Try not to plot the kingdom’s fall without me.”

The room chuckled softly as I padded toward the washbasin at the back, letting the cool water chase away the worst of the day’s grime. My muscles ached as I changed into my long tunic and slipped back into bed, tugging the blanket up to my shoulders.

The second my head hit the pillow, my eyes grew heavy, lashes fluttering closed.

For a moment, there was peace.

Then Kaelithscreamedin my mind.

Ashlyn!

I mumbled, disoriented.A dream?My thoughts were sluggish.

GET UP OR HEIN’S RIDER WILL DIE!she roared.

My eyes snapped open, the heat of her panic setting fire to my veins. I shot upright in bed, breath shallow, already scanning the room for a threat.

What’s going on?I demanded, pulling back my covers.

Get to the prince’s room.Now!she snapped, and the bond burned like lightning.

I didn’t hesitate.

I grabbed my boots and sprinted through the back of the barracks, slipping into the tunnel we’d once used to infiltrate the castle, the same one Siergen had shown me. The stone was cool beneath my bare feet as I ran, my breath ragged in my chest.

Guards’ voices echoed faintly from the main hall, and I pressed myself into the shadows, ducking behind a support beam as they passed by, too distracted to notice me. Themoment they turned the corner, I took off again, heart hammering.

I reached Zander’s hallway. The air was too still.

Something was very wrong.

My hand trembled as I pressed the carved edge of the secret panel and slipped through, emerging in the castle hallway.

I threaded my way through the halls to his room easily.