Page 79 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

I forced a small smile. “I hope you’re right.”

But inside, I felt like I was failing.

Naia hadn’t said anything. Neither had Ferrula. And though they sat close, their eyes didn’t quite meet mine. Maybe they felt the same. That quiet fear that we weren’t enough. Not yet.

The scrape of a bench pulled my attention up.

Zander.

He had been sitting with Crownwatch, but now he was striding toward us with purpose, and no hesitation. He sat down beside me without a word, eyes shadowed and unreadable, tension radiating from him like heat off a forge.

“We’ll be doing hand-to-hand combat trials,” he said, reaching for a piece of bread and tearing it with clean precision.

I stared at him. “You didn’t have to come over here to tell us that.”

His jaw tightened, but his expression didn’t change.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice lower now. I could feel it, the storm rolling just beneath his skin. His posture was calm, but I knew him too well.

Something was wrong.

Zander rubbed his jaw. His gaze was fixed on the table in front of him, jaw clenched hard enough I saw the muscle twitch.

“My father’s taken a turn for the worse,” he said finally, voice tight.

We all went still.

But before any of us could speak, he added, “That’s not all. He had Theron named as regent.”

“What?” I asked, my stomach tightening. “Shouldn’t that be Dorian?”

Zander nodded slowly. “Under normal circumstances, yes. But the regent title is… flexible. It’s meant for times of temporary illness. When the king is expected to recover. The monarch has the right to appoint anyone to act in his place, usually a magistrate, sometimes a trusted relative.”

“But the king’s illness…” I started.

“Could be permanent,” he finished for me. “I’m aware. Everyone is. But no one will say it out loud. Not yet.”

Cordelle leaned forward. “And Theron?”

“He’s using the king’s condition to gain favor in the court,” Zander said with a bitter snort. “He’s already given orders to the royal guard. He’s consolidating power, making deals. It’s all happening.”

“What happens if the king dies?” Jax asked, voice low.

Zander met his gaze. “Then Dorian would ascend the throne. No votes, no politics, he’s the firstborn, and everyone respects him. But if my father dies while Theron still holds regency, then there’s no telling what he’ll try to do to block the succession. He could claim Dorian is unfit.”

Naia hissed through her teeth. “That’s suicide.”

“Not if he gains enough noble support,” Cordelle said quietly. “It’s a long game.”

A heavy silence settled over the table. The kind that spoke of shifting tides and battles we hadn’t yet begun to fight.

Zander pushed back from the bench and stood. “We’re late.”

We followed him across the yard to the Ascension Grounds, the sky heavy with thick gray clouds, as if even the heavens knew something was about to change.

We took our place near our assigned training ring, worn stone surrounded by a low lip of dragon-scorched earth. Around us, other squads were stretching, sharpening weapons, or simply watching.

But Thrall Squad stood ready.