Alex’s eyes lit up and he flung out a hand in my mate’s direction. “See? Even Prince Charming is on my side.”

The barest twitch of a smirk flicked at the corner of Cair’s mouth before flattening out. “On second thought, he may get eaten by a wyvern.”

My bestie spluttered, and a laugh forced its way through my closed lips.

Seconds later, while Alex was busy grousing about how everyone was mean and we all hated him, Kor wandered in through the red curtain, stalling our debate. I beamed at him, almost grateful for the interruption, and he bowed his head in return. “Your Highness.”

I huffed fondly. “We’ve had this conversation already today. You can call me Luca.”

He nodded again, but the gesture was flat. Cair frowned, clearly sensing that something was amiss. “What is it Korgavan?” he asked.

“This just arrived for you, Your Highness.” Kor handed a letter over to my mate. “It is from the city hall.”

The room fell silent.

Cair’s jaw clenched as he gestured in thanks before gracefully peeling the letter open. The page folded out. Kor retreated to the far side of the room to give us privacy as my mate’s dark eyes scanned what it said, the tension in his frame growing with each second that passed. He huffed a humorless laugh. “It seems Father doesn’t need time to prepare himself, after all.”

“What is it?” I asked, stepping in closer to his side.

“It is an official decree, of sorts,” he said. “In more refined terminology, it accuses me of kidnapping a human of the state, and apparently, if I do not return them—and if every last supernatural creature does not vacate Edenglas by the month’s end—then the treaty between our kinds will be voided. They will be forced to see my actions as a declaration of war.”

“What?” I gasped, scanning for everyone else’s reaction.

I noticed Alex’s face had paled. “Who is it from?”

“The Minister of Human and Fae Relations,” Cair said and my friend cursed.

“Mother.” He shook his head, irritation replacing the elation he’d displayed only a moment ago. “I probably don’t have to ask who this child of the state is, but go ahead…”

Cair’s expression turned grave. “Theodore Lawrence.”

Alex’s head fell back, his eyes screwing shut as he let out an unsteady breath. He held up the bracelet mockingly. “Better save this for a rainy day, huh?”

Teighan tugged his mate to his chest, rumbling a soothing purr and rubbing patterns into his back. “We’ll do everything we can, my precious boy,” he whispered so quietly I almost didn’t catch it. “I swear to you. We’ll get him back.”