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Rather than feeling awe at the sheer majesty of this place, fury raged in her heart.

So much wealth had been put into making this throne room—resources that could have been allocated to helping others.

Finding her courage, she strode into the throne room after Elias, who followed Magnus and the queen. A glance over her shoulder told her that Hadeon and Jessamine stood behind her just inside the doorway.

“This once, I’ll not remark on your insolence, human,” Genoveva said in a dangerously low tone, turning from where she was at the base of the dais. “Despite your newly pointed ears, I know what you really are. Get out of my throne room before I?—”

“If I might make a request,” Magnus interrupted, which had the queen quieting. “I’d like for Enchantress Arabella and the others to join us. If that is acceptable to you, of course.”

Arabella frowned and might have objected to doing anything Magnus wanted. However, if it meant that she’d remain near Elias, she’d gladly attend any meeting.

For a long moment, the queen said nothing as she studied the sorcerer. Then she walked up the dais. As she did, she flicked her fingers, and a wisp of magic shot across the throne room and closed the doors behind them.

Turning back to them, Genoveva lowered herself onto the throne, appearing as though she lounged atop a crescent moon. “I’ll permit it.”

“While we’re placing requests, I have one of my own,” Arabella snapped as she marched down the center of the throne room.

It was an effort to keep control over the blackness filtering over her eyes and prevent her fangs from emerging as rage churned through her.

She pointed a finger at Magnus. “He’s taken my mate hostage and tortured him for weeks.

I can’t imagine what there is to discuss besides telling him to fuck right off. ”

Sand trailed the floor behind her, and her dirty boots and leathers squeaked in the unnaturally quiet room. What felt like an eternity later, she came to stand at the base of the dais, opposite Magnus and Elias. A moment later, Jessamine and Hadeon were by her side.

Genoveva’s gaze settled on Arabella’s clawed fingertips. “I failed to hear a request.”

Get a hold of yourself, Arabella thought. She needed to get a leash on her anger if she had any hope of navigating whatever political labyrinth she’d stepped into.

Magnus raised his hand as Arabella opened her mouth to speak. “If I may provide context to Your Majesty.” He gestured to where Elias stood behind him. “Elias offered himself to me of his own volition. I wasn’t aware they were bonded. However, under the terms of our agreement, his life is mine.”

Arabella watched as one of Magnus’ hands disappeared in his robes before Elias spoke.

“He speaks the truth,” Elias said in a tone so cold, so emotionless, that it was nearly unrecognizable. “I offered myself to him.”

A sudden, hot fury seared in her veins.

He is using the syphen.

She’d suspected it, but to see it happen was something else entirely.

Instinctively, she reached for the shadows. But before she could unleash them, Hadeon caught her wrist.

Rather than telling him to fuck right off, she found herself looking up at the fae male.

Ever so slightly, he shook his head.

Don’t, his gaze said.

Did she dare trust him after everything? What if this was some trick, too?

A simple fact made her pause. She was woefully outnumbered.

Even with her new powers, she wouldn’t be able to take down Magnus, Genoveva, and the guards, steal the syphen, and escape the Twilight Court with Elias and Jessamine. But damn it, she wanted to try.

It took everything in her to not look over to where Elias stood behind the sorcerer.

Even still, Elias’ presence alighted her senses with a static energy.

She felt more alive than she had in the weeks they’d been apart.

It was like he awakened something in her magic.

Even the shadows rumbled at her feet, shifting like rolling waves.

“If I may be so bold,” Magnus said with a false humility infusing his voice. “I’d like to hear about their journey to the underrealm. I’ve never ventured to one, and I’m curious to learn more about it.”

For the first time, Arabella wondered whether the sorcerer intended to reveal how Hadeon had come to Elias’ castle and fought his army.

Was that why he’d asked for them to stay—to reveal what Hadeon had done in front of the queen?

Despite the prince’s claim that killing the ogres and gargoyles could be labeled as self-defense, Arabella had a feeling the queen wouldn’t see it that way.

Not if it jeopardized whatever good will she had with the sorcerer.

It was clear Magnus had the queen’s ear and that she possessed disdain for Hadeon. But why?

“As you wish.” The queen turned to her son with a gaze far colder than a mother should look at her child, her fingers drumming on the throne’s armrest. “Speak.”

A muscle pulsed in Hadeon’s jaw. “Recently, I heard rumors that the shadow fae may still be alive. When I’d heard of a gateway near the western tundra, I asked Enchantress Arabella to join me in a journey to the Abyss. As it turns out, it’s a one-way entrance into the underrealm.”

“How did you know where to go?” Magnus pressed. “And why bring the enchantress?”

Hadeon hesitated before saying, “Before the war, Prince Arden created a map of the Abyss, which only shadow fae can use. The enchantress was able to read the map, and we located the shadow fae.”

“What aren't you saying?” the queen demanded, her eyes narrowing. “The child’s magic didn’t feel like this before. Something has changed.”

Again, Hadeon seemed to consider. “While in the Abyss, she trained with them and unlocked some of her shadow fae abilities, which is likely why you can sense her powers now and couldn’t before.”

Arabella was careful to school her features into neutrality.

It didn’t miss her notice that Hadeon specified unlocking her shadow fae abilities and not her demon magic. Yet again, why did he protect her from the queen?

I’d probably never be allowed to leave this court if Genoveva knew of my demon magic, she thought. I’d be held hostage just like my mother or executed.

Even now, she may not be allowed to leave since the queen knew she was part shadow fae.

For a moment, she wondered if she should have tried to flee the Twilight Court. Even with the guards, she and Jessamine could have made a run for the gateway in the forest. They might have stood a chance of succeeding.

And leave Elias behind?

No, she couldn’t have left without him.

If she was to be trapped in the Twilight Court alongside her mate, so be it. But maybe she could avoid having Jessamine trapped alongside her.

“What I wish to discuss with you has to do with the shadow fae,” Hadeon said. “Specifically, what they intend to do if they ever return to the fae realm.”

The queen raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow.

“They made a deal with a greater demon called the Everdark,” he said. “It will help them in their quest for revenge on our court. In exchange, the shadow fae will help the demons gain entry into the fae realm.”

The words seemed to hover in the air, and the room remained utterly quiet as though no one dared to breathe.

Then the queen spoke.

“And?”

Lines formed between Hadeon’s brows as he said, “ And? Demons could run rampant in our realm, feeding off the land’s magic, killing those with weaker magic?—”

“You sealed the gateway, did you not? They are trapped in the underrealm with no way out. As such, there’s no reason to concern ourselves with the shadow fae any further,” the queen said with a wave of her hand.

Her gaze flicked to Magnus. “I presume the reason for your presence here today is because you have good news.”

Hadeon’s eyes widened. “What have you done?”

Countless emotions swirled through Arabella, but all she could do was look between Elias and the others.

Magnus didn’t speak right away. Instead, he looked at the queen, who nodded—granting him permission to speak further.

Then he turned to Arabella, Jessamine, and Hadeon.

“Her Majesty has requested my assistance on a specific matter. She knew I’d found a way to grant immortality to my erox, and she asked if it was possible to grant immortality to an existing race.

I’m happy to report, I found a way, but there will be a price. ”

“Did you not hear me, Mother?” Hadeon said, interrupting Magnus. “The shadow fae want to return. They could find another way and attack the Twilight Court. Surely, this matter with immortality and the sorcerer can wait.”

“All the more reason to forge new alliances,” the queen said, not meeting her son’s gaze. “Did you discover other exits from the Abyss?”

“There are none that we know of—” Hadeon began.

“That’s good enough for now,” Genoveva said.

Hadeon spoke again, but Arabella didn’t hear the words. Even as he tried to get through to his mother, she knew it was no use.

“What’s the cost?” Arabella said, her voice low.

The queen leaned back in her throne, her hands draped over the armrests. “Something that doesn’t concern you. That is between the sorcerer and I.”

Jessamine crossed her arms, speaking up for the first time.

“You do realize that the sorcerer has an army of erox and creatures of the dark on the other side of a gateway that leads into your territory, right? Most of the demons and monsters might not be able to pass through the gateway for now, but the erox can. They can feed on the fae—not just mortals. With enough erox, your kingdom wouldn’t stand a chance. ”

Turning to Jessamine, the queen leveled a patronizing look on her, like she was placating a foolish child. “Don’t you worry about that, human. We’ve come to an agreement.”

Magnus cleared his throat, drawing all eyes to him. “As a sign of good faith for our alliance, I’d like Enchantress Arabella.”

For the first time, the queen’s gaze narrowed on the sorcerer. “You want the only shadow fae in the lands of the living? Why?”

“I need her magic for my final preparations to grant your request,” Magnus said.

Belatedly, Arabella found her voice. “I’m not some pawn to be bargained off?—”

But the queen was already speaking. “You’re a fugitive in my court who came here without my invitation. What comes next is at my discretion . ” Then she turned to Magnus. “What is it you want with her magic?”

“Only the shadow fae can create syphens, which are essential to creating new erox.” Magnus paused, leveling a knowing gaze on the queen. “To achieve immortality for the fae, I’ll need a more powerful syphen. One that can… make exchanges.”

Genoveva sniffed. “You intended this all along.” She waved a hand. “Create the syphen. Now. And you will give a demonstration of what it can do, or our deal is off.”

Magnus turned to Arabella, his eyes full of dark promise.

“Let’s begin.”