“Erias caught Kali and Zara together in a side chamber, and she tried to drown him.”

I grabbed her forearm and hissed. “Where?”

Astrid jerked away. “You can’t leave here. It will look like you were in on it!”

“I just danced with the queen in front of hundreds of witnesses, so I highly doubt that.”

Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “That I would have paid to see.” She glanced around, ensuring no one could see us.

“Is Erias dead?” I pressed, my mind whirling with possibilities. Astrid shook her head, her lips pressed tight into a line. “So then what’s the good news?”

The doors to the ballroom burst open, and a fuming Erias emerged. He looked dry enough to me, except for the wet hair that peeked out under his crown. He made straight for the dais and stood expectedly. Every voice went silent.

“He is a fast changer.”

I nudged Astrid in the side to shut her up.

“I have an announcement,” Erias began, his jaw tense with anger. The crowd waited with bated breath, even as a wicked gleam grew in his eyes.

“The princess Kali will be wed, cementing our alliance with the far north. They have already promised us aid to hold off any demon attacks and have offered a trade agreement as well.”

Confused muttering broke out, and my heart pounded in my chest. He couldn’t possibly mean—

“The Overlord is content with the kingdom of Cantrada and has pledged nothing but support and loyalty to us in Aldur. He will take back the city from the rebels in a matter of days. A marriage into our bloodline cements his good faith in our alliance. With my court as witnesses, we will seal this agreement.”

Severn stepped forward from behind a curtain, and my blood boiled as everyone gasped in horror at the vampyre’s presence. How long had he been there? Had he been courting Erias the entire time we were here?

Next to me, Astrid grabbed my hands. “No. I’ll kill him!”

I threw a hand across her chest even as I noticed the water and wine vibrating in their chalices.

“You said you had good news,” I deflected, not taking my eyes off the grinning vampyre, dressed as finely as the king before the assembled crowd. Astrid didn’t get to answer, as Nian suddenly shot into motion, no guards close enough to stop her. A jeweled dagger flashed, and then Erias was down, blood spilling everywhere. There were screams, and yells, and chaos as the guards fought to secure the door. I blinked and Severn was gone.

“The princess!” Astrid shrieked. “Go to her, I will do what I can here.”

I disappeared in a wisp of smoke, materializing in Kali’s chambers. I lunged blindly, knocking into someone and sending them sprawling to the floor. Severn hissed and whirled with daggers and teeth ready. I stabbed down with my claws, my ears catching frantic scrambling from the other side of the room.