“How did you get to Coral?” Anemone queries, and I glare at her. Does she have to ask so many damn questions?

“Bain was with her,” Cyan says. “You tricked him.”

“Uh . . . maybe?”

Cyan shakes his head. “You took advantage of a confused man to steal from me? How are you not ashamed of yourself?”

“I had no choice,” I say, feeling as tall as a bug. “Zerra has my mate, and she won’t give him back without the ark.”

Something passes behind Anemone’s expression as she exchanges a loaded look with Cyan.

“Why should we give a fuck about that?” Linden demands, still my best friend.

“Because Rion won’t stop with me,” I say. “He’s up to something bigger. Something that will hurt you too. If he gets his hands on me, then he’s one step closer to that goal.”

Cyan glares at me. “What is he up to?”

“I don’t know,” I say, deciding now is the moment to add in a few more details I’ve kept to myself. I’ve got little else to lose at this point. I tell him about Nostraza and my magic, explaining the horrors Rion visited upon me and my siblings.

When I’m done stumbling through my hasty explanation, Cyan seems to consider my words as he looks at Anemone. They appear to be having some kind of silent conversation that I can’t interpret. The hold on my arm loosens a fraction.

“She’s lying,” Linden says. “The Heart Queen would say anything to save her own neck.”

Cyan’s hand squeezes tighter again, and my shoulders sag. I want to kick her in the shins right now.

“I’m not lying,” I say. “Look at my face. He did that. He left that scar on me with his magic.”

“You could have gotten that anywhere,” Linden says.

She’s right. And what reason have I given any of them to believe me? All I’ve done is lie since they let me in here. My inability to trust anyone is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

At the sound of a horn, we all turn to watch as Rion’s army draws near.

When they reach the round plaza surrounding the palace, they spill into it like ink staining a clean white canvas. Rion sits on his horse at the front, all imperious arrogance in black armor with a sword strapped to his back. He looks like the Lord of the Underworld himself, come to drag me to the pits of hell. I remember with a jolt that this is Nadir’s heritage. That the first king of The Aurora is his great-great-great-great-however-many-greats-this-goes-back grandfather. Goosebumps erupt over my skin.

“Cyan!” Rion shouts from below. “I’ve come only for the girl. Hand her over to me, and your people need not suffer.”

Cyan isn’t buying that, is he?