Page 71 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

“Exactly. Every king’s been looking. None have found it because the wards around it are cloaked.” I met Cordelle’s gaze. “But Zander’s Dark Fire… might be able to reveal them.”

“That’s serious magic,” Cordelle murmured, brows drawn.

“Yeah, and he can only use it on the isle. Blood Fae territory.”

The room fell silent.

Jax let out a low whistle from across the room. “So we’re going there?”

“Not yet,” I said. “Zander’s working on a cover mission. Once it’s cleared, we move.”

Ferrula cracked her knuckles. “About time we stirred some real trouble.”

Tae looked at me, his eyes focused. “And if it’s a trap?”

“Then we spring it first.” I leaned back on my hands, heart still racing.

Because the deeper we went, the more I realized?—

This wasn’t just about a weapon anymore.

This was about who we would become to survive it.

Zander stormed into the barracks, his cloak whipping behind him like it had a mind of its own. His jaw was clenched so tight it looked like he might break teeth, and the look in his eyes screamed barely-contained rage.

I stood up immediately. “What happened?”

He stopped just inside the threshold, breathing hard. “We’ve been grounded.”

“What?” Riven asked, pushing to her feet. “Why?”

Naia’s brows furrowed. “Is it because of the mission?”

Zander gave a sharp nod, pacing now. “Apparently there’s another assignment that takes precedence. I asked for clearance to lead Thrall Squad into the outer isles, quietly. But we’ve been denied travel until further notice. Crownwatch too.”

“Why?” Naia repeated, confused.

“They wouldn’t say.” His voice was clipped, strained. “Only that there’s another mission in queue that must proceed first. It makes no sense.”

Cordelle frowned, looking up from where he sat. “What could be more important than finding the fae sanctuary?”

“That’s what I asked,” Zander said. “I didn’t even tell them about the Virelith Crystal. Just that I had a lead on the location of the sanctuary, and that I might be the only one who can get us inside.”

I stepped closer. “What did they say?”

Zander stopped pacing long enough to meet my eyes. “They told me to wait.”

“For who?”

He hesitated. “For my brother.”

“Dorian?” I asked.

He shook his head, his voice turning bitter. “No. Theron.”

A silence swept over the room, thick and uneasy. Riven let out a low curse. Jax muttered something under his breath about royal politics. And I…

I felt the burn of frustration ripple through my chest.