“Careful, brother,” Caelan hisses. “If anyone looks closely, they might see your court serves no purpose either.”

“I believe it is time,” Lysander says, ignoring them both. “We are ready to move forward.”

Queen Ophelia glides slowly across the tiles. She stops in front of Caelan. “You have served Victory well. But Lysander is right—we must look to the future. Which is why I’d like you to join me in the Capital.”

“What?” Ettore’s eyes flash with fire.

Something shifts in the air—an exchange of unspoken words between Caelan and the queen. A plan finally clicking into place.

The queen continues. “You’ll take a place beside my throne, preparing the Capital for a new world. We are evolving; humans are not a threat. Soon the Four Courts will become nothing more than a relic from our past. I’d like you to help pave the way forward.”

Caelan doesn’t react. Neither does Lysander or Damon.

I shake uncontrollably.

Ettore’s gaze darts wildly between his brothers. And then understanding dawns on him. “You wanted this,” he says to Caelan. “A seat in the Capital—the end of the Four Courts.”

“Victory is a cage,” Caelan replies easily. “I grew tired of living in it.”

“And you want to make the other courts obsolete in the process.” The flames on Ettore’s knives grow stronger, matching the rage building within him. “I underestimated the lengths you’d go to for a bigger crown.”

“I thought you’d be happy, brother. You’ve been after Victory long enough—and my Legion Guards.” Caelan’s gaze goes cold, and Ettore stiffens. “Oh yes, I know all about you and Commander Kyas. Who do you think told me about Vallis? Did you really think you could buy my commander’s loyalty with empty promises? You wanted to expand War and take Victory for yourself. Well, now you can enjoy my court’s rubble.”

“I wanted to make your court what it should be,” Ettore snarls. “I wanted to make it great. But instead you’d prefer an end to all of us.”

“I only want an end to our chains,” Caelan says. “With a new world, we can start over. We can be anything we want.”

Is this what he was struggling with all this time? The desire to move on from his court? To be more than what he was? I think of the meetings with the Chancellors and the sudden need to rid Victory of humans in bulk…

“That’s why you sent so many humans to Death,” I say, realization thrumming inside me. “It wasn’t to lure us out or because they were becoming aware. You were closing up shop.”

There’s a twitch in Caelan’s brow, but he says nothing.