Page 25 of A Court of Darkness and Dragons

We crossed the threshold onto the Ascension Grounds, the late morning sun painting the stones in warm gold, but the chill in my spine hadn’t left. The squad was already gathered, spread in their usual loose arc, but the moment Zander and I stepped into view, all eyes locked on us.

They could tell something had shifted. Something big.

“We found Theron,” I said without preamble. “He’s alive. Barely. He was poisoned.”

Jax straightened. “By who?”

Zander stepped forward. “Inderia.”

A ripple of murmured curses and wide-eyed glances swept through Thrall Squad. Ferrula’s jaw flexed. Naia didn’t blink.

“She may be our poisoner,” I continued, “but we can’t guarantee she’s the one behind the dark magic. She was working with someone else. A Blood Fae leader. One powerful enough to promise her things even Theron couldn’t.”

“We need to know who that is,” Zander said. “And we need to know fast.” He looked expectantly at Tae.

Tae, ever the picture of unbothered arrogance, tilted his head. “So, what? I flirt with her, distract her, see what she spills?”

Zander grunted. “That’s the idea.”

Tae groaned dramatically and shoved his fingers through his hair. “I’ll do what’s necessary, but I’d rather masturbate with barbwire than fuck Inderia.”

Jax barked out a laugh loud enough to startle a passing page.

Zander didn’t smile. “I’m fairly certain an intimate relationship isn’t necessary,” he said dryly. “But please lead her to believe you want one.”

Tae sighed. “You owe me a bottle of something strong and morally questionable.”

Zander ignored him, his tone sharpening again. “What matters is the spellcaster. Whether that’s Inderia or her accomplice. We need them. Because we are running out of time to save my father.”

He looked around the circle, meeting every gaze with steady command.

“Let’s get this done.”

The squad nodded—one by one. Determined. Unified.

And then⁠—

Solei approached from across the grounds, the wind catching her cloak as she strode toward us, her expression unreadable.

Her boots hit the stone with crisp, purposeful strides, her cloak still rippling behind her as she came to a stop just a few paces from the squad.

She looked at me directly, all sharp angles and narrowed eyes. “What’s going on?”

I hesitated, glancing briefly at Zander.

His jaw shifted, but he gave the smallest nod.

I exhaled. “We can trust her.”

Solei’s gaze didn’t waver.

“Theron was poisoned,” I said, low but clear. “We found him in the northern wing—alive, barely. He said Inderia did it. She lured him there, drugged him, and left him to die.”

Solei’s expression didn’t change, but her body stilled completely.

“And,” I continued, “she admitted, according to Theron, that she’s working with a Blood Fae, powerful enough to promise her even more than Theron.”

Zander added, “She may have poisoned Theron, but we’re still trying to confirm if she’s also the spellcaster who’s been draining the warders.”