Ivan shrugged. “Aligning with Vael was a mistake. He never saw past his own obsessions—short-sighted, emotional. Weak.”
He stepped closer, voice dropping into something silkier. “Me? I’m after something far greater.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Total world domination.”
Beside me, Thorne shifted. His hand settled on my shoulder—calm and steady.
Slade growled at him, but Thorne held his ground. I touched Slade to still him.
But Phoenix didn’t move. He just watched Ivan with that patient, dangerous stillness he wore so well.
Ivan’s gaze slid toward him. “Seems all allies are up for grabs these days.”
“I don’t switch sides,” Thorne said, voice low and cold. “I choose them.”
Ivan scoffed. “Is that what you call it? Choice?” Then, to me— “How quaint. Loyalty born from guilt. I wonder how long that lasts, Elira. Until the next hard decision?”
At that, Phoenix finally moved.
One slow step forward. A quiet inhale. Fire flickered faintly at his fingertips.
“You think guilt is what drives us to fight people like you?” he said, the threat in his voice wrapped in calm. “You don’t know us, Ivan. You don’t know what any of us are willing to do to keep Elle safe.”
I felt my shadows stir in response. Smoke curled at my feet, echoing the tension under my skin.
As much as I appreciated his protection, I didn’t need it.
“I think you’ve misjudged us,” I said. “We don’t serve any one king. And we don’t need your army.”
Ivan’s smile didn’t falter. “Everyone needs something, darling. Even you. And I think when you consider my offer, it will be more than fair.”
“And what will it cost us?” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
He didn’t have to.
Syrena did.
“I have agreed to marry him,” she said quietly.
The silence cracked like lightning.
I staggered back a step. “What?”
She reached for me. I pulled away.
“You didn’t,” I whispered. “You wouldn’t.”
“We need his army,” she said, voice shaking. “It was the only way to secure Virell. To stand a chance against Ashton. We can rebuild! I did this for us, Elira. For you.”
“So you gave yourself to him?” My voice cracked. “You gaveusto him.”
“Elira—” Phoenix tried to reach for me.
I shook him off. “Don’t.”
“You don’t understand,” Syrena insisted, but her eyes were full of regret. “I did it to buy us time. We need a shield, Elira. This is our chance to get one.”
