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We reached the floor where Elijah’s office was, and I put my arm around her waist, guiding her toward the door. “The tunnel wasn’t good either. I could feel it, something there.”

The underground tunnels were a mystery no one seemed to understand. I assumed they were present in every Realm, but they were most often frequented in the Second and Fourth and highly favored by wraiths and demons. Vampires didn’t have much use for them other than, perhaps, hiding when absolutely necessary.

The underground lairs were possessed by something. A god, maybe. She wasn’t the first human or otherwise who believed something sentient lurked in its shadows.

“I don’t have an explanation for that. No one does. Stay out of the tunnels in the future.” I held open the door for her and she stepped inside. “No one ever comes back from the crevasse.”

Cassia passed Elijah’s desk and sat down on the short sofa. She watched as I put my hands on my hips and then lifted one to shove my hair over my shoulder. Her eyes softened and she gave me a small smile before looking down at her lap.

If magic this severe was being stirred up, it had to be Annalise. She was likely beginning the ritual to wake up Wyvon. There was nothing I could do to stop her, not from here and not now.

Elijah walked in, Selena following close behind. He glanced at me and tilted his head slightly.

“Cassia, those packages are for you,” I pointed to the stack the maid left on the table, “I need to speak to Elijah privately.”

She blinked and rose from the sofa. Selena glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, the edge of her lips twitching.

I snagged Cassia’s hand as she went to walk by and brought her knuckles to my mouth, kissing them. She relaxed instantly and nodded her head.

After the two women left, Elijah sat down behind his desk and threaded his fingers together. “I apologize if I have brought war to your doorstep,” I said.

It was hard to ignore the deep knowing I possessed, of the fact I wouldn’t be nearly as gracious as the man sitting behind the desk, had our positions been reversed.

His gazed flicked to the side, the color of his irises wavering again. I quieted my head so I could listen to whatever he was hearing.

The women were walking down the hallway and Cassia was concerned she wouldn’t get to use her new paints and pencils because of whatever was going on. Selena told her just to bring them with her, wherever we went.

The stomach went hollow and a weight settled on my upper chest. When I turned my head, Elijah was watching me. His eyebrows rose a fraction, speaking to me of our role reversal without saying one, single word.

Without asking, I strolled over to the sideboard and selected a carafe. Virgin blood. It was far more a delicacy here than it was in the First.

Humans were valued much higher in the Fourth. Birthday parties were held for them. They owned at least half of the shops in town. Nobody wanted them dead, or if they did, they often ignored the instinct to kill them.

The sugary, coppery scent filled the air as I poured a full cup. Once I seated myself in an armchair, I took a long sip, both enjoying the decadent beverage and missing my Cassia’s own sweet flavor.

Elijah watched me, resting his chin against his fingers as he sat back, with the barest of smirks gracing his mouth. The fucker was enjoying my discomfort.

Finally, he spoke. “I’ve amassed a larger army, since I’ve been here. I’m sure it would be insufficient compared to whatever you have in the First, and I wouldn’t presume otherwise. That is, should they invade.”

“I don’t know if I should wait to see what she does next, or if I should return and fight on home soil,” I said. Annalise was a tricky, manipulative queen. She likely had highly lethal wards blanketing the atmosphere, designed specifically with me in mind when I transitioned back. That was, after all, what I would have done.

“What about Kiam? I’m sure he could be of help.”

At the man’s name, I winced and shook my head. “He dropped someone off and disappeared. I have not seen him since.”

“Oh?” Elijah furrowed his brows.

After taking a long drag of my drink, I replied. “Zaynan. He’s Queen Annalise’s son. She deposited him in the Third as a baby and he fell in with the demons.” The man was going to have permanent lines between his eyebrows, the way he kept eyeing me. “He’s half Fae.”

“No shit.” He leaned forward and tapped his hand against the edge of the desk. “He’s one of the crossbreeds.”

I finished the blood and set the glass down on the table. “I’m going to train him, when I get the chance,” I mused. If I got the chance.

He nodded, deep in thought. “I would send the birds for the sorcerer, Jude, but I doubt he would answer. He’s rather reclusive, difficult. He’s half vampire.”

That he wouldn’t help didn’t bother me. I wasn’t entirely fond of sorcerers to begin with and didn’t care for their company. Although... I could always bite him. “Try anyway.”

Elijah opened his laptop and banged away at some keys. “Done,” he announced.