Page 175 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

“No,” I said quietly. “This isn’t politics, this is war.”

I glanced at Zander’s shoulder but the wound had vanished.

Zander sat up on the cot, rotating his arm slowly, testing the muscle. The skin beneath the hole in his tunic was smooth, healed perfectly, not even a scar left behind. Meri had done her work with quiet, effortless precision, as always.

Relief unfurled in my chest like breath after drowning.

“Thank you, Meri,” I whispered, my voice hoarse with the truth of what could have happened.

Zander glanced at me and gave a tired but cocky wink. “Were you worried about me?”

“Yes,” I said simply, honestly.

There was no reason to pretend. Not anymore.

Cade let out a long breath, arms crossed. “He redirected the arrow with his power,” he muttered, “but he should’ve reacted sooner.”

Zander rubbed the back of his neck, looking more thoughtful than defensive. “I tried to. I thought I was shielding Theron, but something… happened.”

My brows pinched. “What do you mean?”

“My power,” he said, glancing at me, then Meri. “It felt blocked for a second. Like something had… pressed down on it. It came back fast, but that pause, that hesitation, threw me off.”

“Could it be a spell?” I asked.

Zander’s gaze darkened. “Maybe. I’m not sure. But it wasn’t natural. I’ve never felt anything like it.”

Before anyone could respond, the door slammed open.

Remy stormed in, tension coiled in every line of his body. His eyes flicked immediately to Zander—then me. They lingered on how close we were.

But he didn’t comment.

Not about that.

“We have a problem,” he said, voice clipped and urgent.

“Just one?” Zander muttered, already reaching for his jacket.

Remy stepped fully into the room, the door swinging shut behind him with a finality that made my stomach twist. His eyes swept over Meri, Cade, Zander, and then settled on me. Whatever edge he’d been carrying since the attack had hardened into something colder. More certain.

Zander stood, flexing his healed arm, but Remy didn’t look impressed. “You okay?” he asked gruffly.

“I’ll live,” Zander said, but his tone wasn’t casual, it was taut, ready.

Remy nodded once, then cut straight to it. “Theron’s rise to power is nearly complete.”

The air in the room shifted.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Remy’s jaw worked for a moment before he answered. “The king’s mind is… broken. His paranoia has reached the point where he doesn’t trust his own council. He’s begun relying on Theron more and more. For everything. He thinks it’s loyalty, but it’s manipulation.”

Zander’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve seen it. But the lords wouldn’t follow Theron blindly.”

“They aren’t blind anymore,” Remy said flatly. “He’s been swaying them for months. Slowly. Carefully. Promises of land, status, autonomy. He’s playing the long game, and with this incident,” his voice dripped with sarcasm, “he’s painted himself the victim of royal in-fighting and painted you,” he looked at Zander, “as the unstable wildcard.”

Zander folded his arms, unreadable. “So what… you’re saying he’s going to take the throne?”