Page 153 of Fate of the Sun King

“This is bad,” Amya adds.

“So now what?” Tristan asks. “Does this change anything?”

“No,” I say. “If the Aurora King is also after it, then it’s more imperative than ever we don’t let it fall into the wrong hands.”

I can tell Nadir wants to object.

You know I’m right, I say to Nadir, who glowers with all the subtlety of a hive of killer bees.

This just got more dangerous.

It was always dangerous. We don’t have another choice.

Everyone in the room is looking at us during our silent exchange.

“That is so weird,” Mael says.

Nadir exhales a resigned sigh. “Fine. The plan is the same. We get in, we talk to the Mirror, and we get out without either king getting his hands on Lor.”

I nod, though I don’t like any of this. The Aurora King’s presence makes this all feel a lot more precarious, but who knows what kind of catastrophe awaits if Rion gets the ark?

Nadir tosses the letter on the table in front of him, and I go to pick it up, scanning the words he’s already confirmed.

“Drugging the guards helps us only if we can lure everyone from the throne room,” Nadir says, returning to the details of our plan. This has to be our focus. “And we require at least a few minutes. I’m not sure how long Lor is going to need with the Mirror.”

“There are rumors the low fae resistance is planning something tomorrow,” Etienne says, his arms folded across his chest, from where he leans in the corner, as quiet as a shadow.

“Can we use that?” Nadir asks.

Etienne shakes his head. “I’m not sure, but it seems a risky thing to rely on. What if the rumors have been planted to direct attention from somewhere else? They might hit a completely different part of the city. We’d need to confirm.”

Nadir looks at me and purses his lips.

“Lor, if this isn’t the diversion we need, then we have to consider Amya’s plan.”

I rub a hand down my face. “Fine. But only as a last resort.”

He dips his chin. “Then let’s go pay a visit to Erevan.”

We all share a look around the room. We know this is a long shot. Our chances of dying or getting caught are nearly a hundred percent.

But we’re out of time, and this is the only choice we have.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

NADIR

THE UMBRA

The streets of Aphelion are alive with activity with the celebrations for the bonding well underway.

“Do you think he’ll meet with us?” Lor asks as we weave through the crowds a few hours later. It took a little bribery, but I managed to uncover the location of Erevan’s headquarters without too much fuss. It’s hard to predict how he’ll react when we arrive, but I’m taking a leap of faith that he won’t run to Atlas as soon as he lays eyes on Lor.

A riot is the diversion we might need to get inside the palace. People will get hurt, but that is inevitable. None of this can be stopped.

Ducking down a narrow alley, we approach a plain black door. It’s the entrance to a gambling den that runs around the clock. I’m told Erevan runs his activities from the basement, and I hope the information I’ve received is correct.

I knock on the door in a series of quick taps as I was instructed, and we wait.