If Vasquez was off the board, Ashton wouldn’t take it lightly.
“Does Ashton know?” I asked.
Isaac’s face sobered. “He’s in Duskfall. He hasn’t made a move yet, but he’s issued threats. Said he’ll burn the city to ash if Vael doesn’t hand over what he wants.”
“Elira,” Phoenix said.
Isaac nodded. “Most likely.”
The tavern felt colder. Like the fog outside had seeped in through the walls.
Isaac looked around, already tensing again. “That’s all I can say. For now. If you want answers—real ones—find Lia.”
“Well,” Caelen muttered, “there goes the polite option.”
I met Phoenix’s eyes. “We have to find her.”
Isaac gave a short nod. “I’ll make contact when it’s safe.”
Without another word, he stood and slipped into the crowd, vanishing like smoke in the dark.
The shadows swallowed him whole.
But his warning lingered—sharp and bitter as ash.
We had names. We had leads.
And Elira wasn’t gone.
Not yet.
Chapter 43
Maddie
I tucked my hair into the bonnet and gave it a firm pat. The maid’s uniform was a little shorter than I’d like—borrowed from a seventeen-year-old—but I made it work. I tugged at the back and smoothed the front.
Not bad.
I tilted my head, checking my reflection. I actually looked kind of hot. It’s a shame Lacey wasn’t here to see it.
Bet she’d approve.
Mental note: steal this outfit when the nightmare was over. If I made it that far.
“Do you remember your role?” Leo asked from the couch in Lia’s lounge. His tone was flat, but his knee bounced up and down like a seesaw.
“Go in, find what level she’s on, how many guards, then get out. I know the drill.”
“Mads—”
“Leo, stop mothering me, okay? I’m pretty sure I’ve proven I’m just as capable as you these past few days.”
“I know you’re capable, Mads. I know that. But—” He hesitated, and I softened.
“Leo,” I said gently. “You know I love you like the brother I never asked for.”
I nudged him. “But you’ve got to trust me.”
