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Weak, overheated, and locked on the edge of violence; it did not matter. I reached for the hilt of my sword, ready to stand between enemy blades and Lyra.

“Sister. I thought we were closer than this, being twins and all.” Auki, hooded and with half of his face shrouded by a mask, stepped onto the path. Four fara wolves surrounded him.

A low, hesitant chuckle rippled down the line.

Brynn lowered her bow. “You did that on purpose. Foolish of you, Auki. Gods, we’re all wound in tension. I could’ve shot you.”

Auki tugged the cloth off his nose and winked at his twin. His levity died when he saw me. “Good gods, Roark, what happened?”

“Fadey.” Lyra spoke instead. “Change of plans. We need to get back to the queen, see if she knows what was done to the deledan. It has altered Roark’s craft somehow.”

A shadow crossed Auki’s face. “No need. Follow me. The queen has come to you.”

47

Lyra

The Dark Watch camp settled in the trees and lands not far from the northern tip of the Black Fjords. Tents, fire pits, and a small barrier of fences to mark the camp’s borders were already in place.

I propped my chin onto Roark’s shoulder. “It looks like your mother moved the Dark Watch not long after we left.”

He nodded but didn’t unfurl his clenched fists to respond.

Jordis rode alongside us. “What do you think drew them out?”

“I don’t know. But if the Dark Watch is on guard and ready for battle, something happened in our absence.”

“Oi. What’d we say, you sods?” Gunter’s voice lifted over the camp. From a crowd of Dark Watchers, the soul weaver shoved toward the back of the procession.

Three Dark Watch warriors aimed blades at the horses of Thane and Yrsa. Gunter tugged on one man’s shoulder, breaking his hold. “What’d we say, huh? The Jorvan prince is with us.”

The Dark Watcher was young, likely new, and dropped his chin. “Apologies. Saw him and panicked.”

“Let them pass. Gods, you call yourself a watcher. We don’t panic.” Gunter winked up at Yrsa. “Apologies, Princess.”

“Are you making eyes at my betrothed?” Thane huffed.

“I might be.”

“Get in line, Gunter.” Emi rode alongside Yrsa’s horse, kicking at her fellow Draven until he laughed and backed away.

“Glad you lot still breathe. Though it seems like our dear prince has seen better days.” Gunter quickened his step to our horse. “Lyra, trouble over the ledges? We have not been parted terribly long and already he falls apart.”

“Fadey attacked Roark’s soul. We need to see the queen.”

“Shit.” Gunter took hold of the horse’s lead and took us to the largest tent in the center of the camp. “Go. I’ll see to your things.”

Roark slid off the back of the horse, using the creature’s neck to steady himself before he reached for my hand.

His grip was tight, possessive, and he looked around at his own people like they were enemies for even glancing my way. Skul Drek did not reason well. Threats, death, depravity—those were always in the forefront of his focus until our soul bond. Now, to him, it seemed no one was worthy of trust, for they would likely turn their darkest desires against his melder.

Elisabet stood over a long tabletop placed on stumps. Maps of the three realms scattered the surface. Yanson, Kaysar, Ofan, and other Dark Watch captains were there with her.

Elisabet’s lips parted. “What’s happened? Why is the deledan tethered?”

“Tethered?” I stepped back when the queen led Roark to a chair. The prince nearly hissed at her when she tore us apart.

The queen wheeled on me. “What happened?”