Page 75 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

The entire table went quiet.

I stood, dropping the half-eaten biscuit on my plate. “Sure.”

The hall buzzed behind me as I followed Zander out into the courtyard, the last rays of sunlight painting the sky in lavender and rose. The air was cooler now, tinged with the scent of dragon fire and damp stone.

We stopped beneath the colonnade.

“What is it?” I asked.

Zander turned to me, eyes dark with something more than anger.

“I just heard about your mission.”

The heavy doors creaked open behind us, and I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

Remy.

“Don’t start on her,” he said, voice clipped with restrained fury. “This was my idea. If you read the mission report, then you know she’s the only one who can activate the artifact.”

Zander’s head turned slowly, his gaze locking onto Remy with a coldness that could’ve frozen lava.

“I did read it,” he said, his tone like sharpened steel. “She’s not anchored. She won’t be able to activate that artifact, not yet.”

“She can try,” Remy shot back, stepping closer. “And I will guarantee her safety.”

Zander laughed—sharp, humorless. “You can’t guarantee anything. Not where you’re going.”

The light from the torches flickered against the tension tightening between them. I could practicallyfeelKaelith’s discontent humming in the back of my mind.

“And if you think her dragon will stay behind with her that close to the enemy?” Zander continued, stepping forward until they were almost chest to chest. “Then you’re lying to yourself.”

Remy’s eyes narrowed. “Katama can mask us long enough to stay out of range?—”

“Long enough for what?” Zander barked. “To teleport into the teeth of the Blood Fae and hope she doesn’t erupt into a storm that gets you both killed?”

“I know what I’m doing.”

“No, you don’t,” Zander snapped. “You’ve always used her, now you’re doing it again. Only this time, you’re dressing it up as loyalty.”

Remy flinched at that, just slightly. “This is bigger than any of us.”

Zander’s voice dropped, ice-cold. “Then why does it feel like you are using this mission to get back in her pants?”

I stepped between them, heart hammering. Both dragons were distant, but I could feel the pull of something deeper, territorial, ancient.

And terrifying.

“Enough,” I said, voice low but firm.

“This isn’t helping. Zander, I will go with him and try and get more information on the Blood Fae attacks. The information could help us find the Fae Sanctuary.”

“You are looking for the Fae Sanctuary?” Remy asked.

“Yes. And if you betray my trust again I will…”

“Never speak to me again. I got it, and I won’t.”

“You’re not taking her.”