“She doesn’t have a choice.” The amusement in Razel’s voice had vanished, her tone dropping low and predatory. She eyed her son, as if daring him to contradict her again.

He didn’t. He drew back beneath her sharp gaze, averting his own.

Razel nodded to the guard, and she seized the collar of Caylus’s shirt, driving her fist into his jaw. Caylus struck the ground, and the guard kicked him in the stomach.

I stayed rooted to the spot, my nails digging so harshly into my palms, I drew blood. The sound of each punch landing made my skin crawl and my stomach turn. But I didn’t move. I couldn’t give Razel what she wanted. I couldn’t.

The guard paused, looking up at Razel. The queen watched me, waiting like a jungle cat ready to pounce.

Still, I said nothing.

Razel faced Shearen. He seized a dagger from his hip and drove it into Kiva’s shoulder.

I screamed as Kiva screamed, dropping to her knees as Shearen ripped the dagger free and put it to her throat. I stumbled toward her, legs weak, voice breaking. “I’ll show you! Just let her go!”

“Thia, no!” Kiva cried.

Shearen pushed the blade closer to her neck, drawing a thin line of blood.

“I said I’ll show you!” I yelled, looking desperately to Razel. “Take me to the eggs. I’ll show you. Just call him off. Please.”

Shearen pulled the knife away from Kiva’s throat, then drove his foot into the back of her injured shoulder. Kiva cried out, crumpling to the ground.

I surged forward, but Razel stepped into my path. “Wrong way, Thia dear.”

Breathing heavily, I turned toward the door. Something tugged inside me. My heart fluttered as a humming threaded along my skin. In Razel’s arms, Resyries shifted. I felt the cord between us pulse. Then again.

In the midst of everything, with Caylus and Kiva injured, with Ericen standing idly by, Shearen smiling and Razel staring me down with the judgment of a goddess, simply feeling that pulse centered me.

Now. I shoved the word down the line.

Res’s body crackled with lightning.

Razel screamed, releasing him. His wings flared as he tried to catch himself, but the drug was still in his system, and he hit the ground hard. At the same time, a guard yelled and crumpled to the floor, revealing Auma’s small form several feet behind, her arm still outstretched from throwing the knife.

And she wasn’t alone.

Thirty-One