Aelith steps forward beside him, towering and unmistakably royal even without the ceremonial armour I’ve seen him wear in the city. The sunlight catches the faint bioluminescent markings along his arms and chest, the glowing sigil beneath his collarbone pulsing softly.
His luminous eyes settle on the Queen. “Mother,” he says evenly. “The exchange is complete.”
Queen Serresta studies the four of us from her raised platform. Her expression hasn’t changed much. If anything, she looks faintly entertained. “Is it?”
The question drifts through the courtyard like a blade sliding across silk. Varek shifts his stance slightly, placing himself between me and the line of Crown soldiers surrounding the yard.
“The terms were clear,” he says, voice calm and level. “The human is returned unharmed.” His jaw twitches at that, since I most definitely have been harmed. “In exchange, the prince is released.”
Dawson’s lip twitches faintly at the wordreleased.
Serresta tilts her head. “And what,” she asks thoughtfully, “prevents me from ending this farce right now?”
The courtyard grows very quiet. Her luminous gaze moves slowly across the assembled soldiers. Across Varek, then me.
“You stand within my palace,” she continues. “Surrounded by my warriors. You bring my son to me as though you believe this performance has any power here.” Her eyes narrow slightly. “What stops me from killing you where you stand?”
The words settle heavily in the open air. I glance at the soldiers lining the courtyard. None of them moves. None of them looks uncertain. They’re waiting.
Aelith speaks before Varek does. “You could try,” he says mildly. His tone is so casual, it almost sounds bored.
Serresta’s attention snaps to him. “My patience with you grows thin.”
“Then perhaps you should avoid making poor decisions.”
Her nostrils flare. “You presume much.”
Varek folds his arms, the movement drawing attention to the massive breadth of his shoulders. “Do I?” His luminous eyes flick briefly toward the palace walls.
“You forget that Kael remains in his custody.” Aelith’s lie drops into the courtyard like a stone in still water.
I blink. Dawson blinks too. But the prince’s expression remains perfectly composed.
The Queen’s gaze sharpens. “You expect me to care about a lowly warrior?”
Aelith doesn’t answer immediately, but I see the subtle shift in the courtyard.
The soldiers.
Not one of them reacts.
Not one flinch.
No hesitation.
Nothing.
They stand perfectly still. Because whatever Kael might be to the Queen, he is not insignificant to them.
Aelith notices the same thing I do. A faint smile curves his mouth. “He is loyal,” the prince says simply.
Serresta’s lips thin.
Varek speaks again. This time his voice carries a quiet warning beneath it. “The agreement was safe passage.” His silver gaze holds the Queen’s steadily. “For all of us.”
For a long moment, Serresta says nothing. The tension in the courtyard tightens like a drawn bowstring. Then she exhales slowly. “Very well.” She gestures towards the gates. “Leave.”
No one moves immediately. Because none of us are stupid enough to believe this will be simple.
