Page 62 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

“Before she learns of my treason? The Shadows will sequester the messengers for the short term and quell any official communication that isn’t my own, but more than a day of silence will raise alarms with the guild masters, who receive regular updates from their factions. Regardless, when my Shadows do not arrive with Agatha tonight, she will grow suspicious. By tomorrow, she will assume much.”

“So, basically, we have to get her to reverse her orders today.”

Solange dips her head. “It is only a matter of time before messages make their way into camp and casters here begin to choose which side they are on.”

“You’re saying they’d abandon the rift?”

“I’m sure many would be happy for any excuse to return to their warm beds.”

“Do they not teach loyalty in Nyos?” Jarek quips.

“They are not soldiers,” Solange snaps.

“What’s the second letter about?” Zander asks, his voice stony. He’s remained quiet, listening, up until now.

She spares Jarek a glare. “It’s from a trusted source within Nyos who says the Prime has started executing scribes. Four by pyre, in an attempt to force Zaleria to divulge all she knows.”

I curse. “We need to go now. The dragons can get us there within hours.”

“If we have any hope of minimizing the damage Lorel can cause, yes,” Solange agrees. “But Lorel will bind your affinities the moment you touch shore—”

“She can’t while I’m wearing these.” I hold up my wrists, showing off the gold bands. “From the nymphs.”

The Shadow’s eyebrows arch. “Fine …,” she says, not pushing for more details. “So she cannot bind you, but she can launch an attack against us that even a key caster would not save us all from. There are at least a hundred casters aside from scribes and students within those walls, and they are all highly skilled.”

“What if Romeria strikes first? With her full power, as she did in Cirilea?” Jarek asks.

I wince at the memory of the damage that caused. I don’t know if I could even do that again. It was during a moment of raw agony, after watching Gesine die, my rage with Boaz blinding.

“I am sure Romeria could cause untold damage and kill many. Is it your intention to decimate Nyos, Your Highness?” Solange asks evenly. “There are children within those walls, and many innocent people. I doubt you will win the hearts of my people by doing this.”

“No.” I grimace. Forget the casters, I could never live with myself.

“What about moving in unseen?” Jarek tries again. “You could use your cloaking ability to—”

“It will not work,” Solange interrupts, shaking her head. “There are wards against channeling affinities as you pass through the gate.”

“These witches have thought of everything,” Abarrane complains. “So, basically you are saying that if she sees us coming, it’s over.”

“It is not over, but it will end in war.”

“We do not have time for these games,” Zander speaks up. “We are fighting an endless battle against the Nulling beasts that will spill out over our lands, two fates now walk this plane in flesh, and one has claimed my throne.”

At that, Solange and Kienen both gasp. I guess news hadn’t reached the other side yet.

“And instead of uniting as one to face this great threat to all our people, there is a small group of casters sitting in a room on their warded little island, grasping for more power and wasting our precious time.” Fury oozes from each word. “There is only one end to this. Kill the Prime and anyone who supports her.”

I can’t help my sharp inhale. This isn’t the Zander I just spent an intimate morning with. This is a cold, calculating king who has lost too much.

Solange dips her head. “I agree, they must be stopped.”

Zander’s gaze narrows. He doesn’t trust her, and he’s looking for any hidden meaning within her words.

I study the line of quiet Shadows, hiding behind their menacing black veils, the black metal masks revealing nothing more than their eyes.

“I know that look.” Jarek watches me. “What scheme are you hatching?”

I bite my bottom lip in thought. One that Romy Watts would be proud of.

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