Nik stepped to his side without a word, the quiet weight of his presence anchoring Leukos when everything inside threatened to collapse. Words weren’t necessary—Nik’s presence alone reminded him he wasn’t facing this alone.
After a long silence, Nik’s voice broke through the stillness.
“I know.”
The next day,Leukos sat rigid at the council table, his leg bouncing beneath him. His gaze flicked to the council membersstill milling about, their idle chatter grating on his nerves. The painted map of Achaea sprawled across the table—its fine details usually captivated him—but not today. His grip tightened on the armrests of his chair, wanting nothing more than to throttle the councilmen who had summoned him here, disrupting his training.
Theo, seated beside him, cast a wary glance at the thin layer of frost creeping along Leukos’ armrest. Following his friend’s eyes, Leukos bit back a curse. The icy trail betrayed his lapse in control—a reminder of the wild magic he fought daily to subdue. He pulled his hand away and draped his cloak over the frost before anyone else noticed. Only a select few knew of his condition, and he intended to keep it that way.
Finally, the queen cleared her throat, cutting through the indistinct murmur of voices. “If we are all here, then let us begin.”
“We’re missing the Omega,” Philistos remarked, glancing at the empty seat with disapproval.
“She’s resting,” Theo interjected, leaning back in his chair. “She had a long night.”
Alena had woken briefly after the healers saved her from the ice, but she’d been too weak to say much beyond murmuring that the pain was gone. Nik had carried her back to her room, with Leukos following close behind, every step weighted with guilt.
They’d reached her quarters just after dawn, where Phoebe met them at the door, her brow furrowing at the sight of Alena asleep in Nik’s arms. Leukos had felt the weight of her inquisitive stare as he explained what had happened, brushing it off as a training accident. The Amazon hadn’t pressed, though her expression said she didn’t quite believe him.
Since then, Leukos hadn’t gone to see Alena. He’d kept his distance like a coward, clinging to Nik’s quiet assurances that she was healed.
She’d even asked for him.
Of course, she had. Alena, with her boundless compassion, would never blame him. No—she would forgive him, as she always did. And that was exactly why he had to stay away. Her forgiveness would only make him reckless. If he gave in to the pull between them, he risked killing her for good next time. He couldn’t trust himself around her—not yet. Not until he had absolute control over the magic roiling inside him.
“It’s just as well the Omega is absent—this news concerns her sister,” Danaos announced, the weight of his words drawing all eyes to him. His expression was uncharacteristically grave for a newlywed man. Whatever he had to share couldn’t be good. He turned to Charis for permission, and she gave a solemn nod.
“The Twelfth Legion, stationed outside our gates, has issued an ultimatum. We have until tonight to return the Gifted Praefect Viridia, or they will burn every village between here and Argos.”
Outrage erupted around the table.
“What?”
“That’s preposterous!”
“Rasennan citizens live there, too!”
“Silence!” Danaos’ sharp command cut through the clamour.
Leukos exchanged a look with Theo, whose startled expression mirrored his own. The Emperor had besieged Tiryns for years—he wouldn’t throw it all away for Katell. And he would never turn his army against Rasennan citizens; he needed their loyalty to keep his grip on power.
Unless… the legate had taken matters into his own hands.
Tarchun had a reputation for recklessness. This could be his chance to strike at the Tirynthians, whom he hadn’t been able to touch throughout the siege.
“How can we trust them to keep their word if we return her?” Theo asked, voicing Leukos’ thoughts.
“We can’t.” Danaos’ gaze was hard, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “But considering how desperate they are to get their hands on her, it’s clear she’s valuable to them. Under no circumstances can we allow her return.”
The councilmen murmured in agreement, the gravity of the situation settling over the room like a storm cloud.
“Then what do you suggest?” one finally asked, his voice betraying the unease they all felt.
Danaos didn’t hesitate. “That we execute her.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
KATELL
