My anger reignites thinking of the role the Velmarans played in this attack, and I aerstep into their apartment, not sure what I’m going to do but furious with my so-called allies. I’m ready to enact my plans to be rid of them for good. We know where the rebel base is, and I would bet we know who their leaders are. It’s time to end this farce of an alliance and kill the Velmarans. I’ll send their heads back to Mazus in a thayar crate. When I realize the Velmarans aren’t here yet, I back into a corner, prepared to wait as long as it takes.

They appear in the room using Silene’s enhanced magic, looking worse for wear. None of them jump when I emerge from the corner, demanding answers, though this time they should. “What the fuck just happened?” My voice is lethal, a blade sharpened in anger and haughty righteousness.

Silene and Fionn are covered in grime and blood, and I instantly pace towards Silene, feeling a protectiveness for the young fae that surprises me, despite my fury. She senses my distress.

“It’s not mine.” The usual joyfulness in her voice is gone, and I vow to not let my care for Mazus’s future daughter-in-law sway me from taking the action I know needs to be taken.

“What. Just. Happened?” I repeat my question. Silene tenses, and her eyes search mine. From the corner of my eye, I see Fionn move in front of Hawthorne. I turn on them. “What. The fuck. Happened?” I demand. The room shakes. “Tell me now,” I roar with the aether-voice, and they all drop to their knees. Hawthorne looks up at me for a long moment before speaking, staying crouched on the ground even as he explains. At least now he has the sense to cow before the roiling brutality in my voice.

“When we got to Oakton, they told us about the attack happening today and asked for my help to get them into the processing tower. It was another test. If we wanted to keep our cover, we had to help them.”

“And you made that decision unilaterally? You decided to sacrifice my people without even consulting me? I’m not sure what you think it means to make kingdom-impacting decisions on behalf of the monarch, but in Thayaria we consider that treason.” The words hiss out of me, my rage boiling over. How dare he decide this on his own. The room shakes again, and the doors to the patio shatter as tendrils of ivy break through them and inch toward the Velmarans, ready to shackle them.