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“To gain control of a species hellbent on destroying itself. Cut the young away from the influence of the elders, and you may mold them to fit the image you want.”

“He seeks to brainwash them.”

“He seeks to restore the balance of the natural order of things.”

“Which is?!”

He ran his tongue across his canine, eyes falling to his feet again.

“Answer me,” I demanded.

“I’ve supplied more than an adequate update to uphold my side of the bargain.”

“And yet I am asking you to finish what you started.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Why would you protect me?” I countered.

He didn’t move. Didn’t flinch at the words or give any indication they’d landed.

“Because no matter how many times I bent the threads, you were always going to be mine to protect.”

“What does that mean?” I asked, voice going windless.

“Exactly what I said.” He shifted his weight, hands firmly stuffed in his pockets. “That no matter what I did to alter the threads, you always ended up mine to keep safe. In one form or another. As Magnolia’s second or my…” He gestured pointedly at my chest with a huff. That midnight braid seemed to hum in response. “Ward. This encounter, I fear, was fixed.”

“Then why won’t you answer me?”

“I just did.”

“No, Adrastos, about the children. The babies. Where are they?”

“They are fed and clothed. They will be… educated.”

“Ahh.” A furious breath punched from my ribs, and I dug my teeth into my lip to keep the storm inside my chest contained. “Educated to align with Moros’ propaganda.”

“History would deem your conclusion likely.”

I narrowed my eyes, trying and failing to steady my breathing. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Exactly what I said.”

“Fuck the riddles.”

Flatly, he drawled, “I would that I could.”

I snapped my mouth closed, playing and replaying what he’d said the night he shifted into his raven.

I might not have had the first clue what the hell was happening, but I knew this puzzle was starting to look like three different pictures dumped into the same box.

“And their parents? They’re handing over their children for their safety, but what of theirs?”

“No specifications were made in that bargain.”

“He kills them?”

“A ruler must have an adequate number of hands to lord over, or whom, exactly, do they rule?”