Theo is kneeling on the floor with his head in his hands. His back spasms under the weight of his sobs. I’ve never seen anyone tremble so much before—like his bones are barely holding him together. Ahmet is crouched beside him with a hand on his shoulder blade, offering small words of comfort near his ear.

Yeong turns to face Annika. “He found Martin.”

Her face goes taut. “You’re certain you weren’t followed back?” she asks, looking between me and Shura.

“Nobody saw us. Theo managed to get back to the vehicle, but he couldn’t keep his veil up. I kept him hidden until Nami turned up,” Shura says, her voice cracking. “There were Legion Guards looking for him. And not just a scout—an entire unit.”

For the first time, Annika looks genuinely alarmed. “Legion Guards? For one human?”

“He sort of blew up a car,” Shura explains, eyeing Theo like she’s apologizing for tattling. “They know he’s trained.”

Annika pinches the bridge of her nose, thinking. “How many guards?”

“A dozen or so,” Shura says. “But as far as I know, they’re still searching the Summer District.”

“If it helps, I don’t think the guards are looking for anyone specific,” I offer quietly. “The princes seemed to be concerned Martin might be aware somehow.”

Ahmet frowns. “The princes?”

“Ettore is in Victory,” I say, and everyone turns to look at me. Everyone except Theo. “I don’t know why. But I overheard him talking with Prince Caelan, and I think there might be something going on between the courts.”

Annika’s attention shifts from Theo completely. “What kind of something?”

“Caelan accused Ettore of meeting with the Chancellors at the Capital. I couldn’t hear the details, but it sounded like the queen doesn’t know about it.” I pause. “I don’t think the Prince of War and the Prince of Victory like each other very much.”

“Caelan is favored in the Capital, and Ettore is…” Annika considers the information. “I suppose it makes sense they’d have a rivalry. But this business about the Chancellors.” She looks at me seriously. “This is something that could be useful.”

“I’m so sorry,” Theo blurts out suddenly. He wipes his mouth with a wet sleeve. “I put you in danger. I put all of us in danger.”

Ahmet pats his shoulder again. “It’s okay, son. It’s not your fault.”

“It is,” Theo spits, and when he looks up, his eyes are bloodshot. “I never knew for sure what happened to Martin, and when I saw him today…” He rolls his tongue against the inside of his cheek. “He had this look in his eyes when I said his name. It was like he heard me.”

“But that’s impossible,” Shura says softly.