“To take back the throne,” I reply. “To destroy Teren and the Inquisition Axis.”
Before I can say more, Sergio and Violetta come to the door.
For a moment, Sergio looks as if he might address the prince, even thank him for sparing his life all those years ago. But he doesn’t. Enzo watches him with a quiet, careful stare. Sergio opens his mouth, then closes it again. He clears his throat, and walks over to the window instead. He points out at where the malfetto camps start dotting the field. “You can see the commotion from here.” He waves us over. His eyes settle on Enzo again, as if he’s not quite sure what to do around him. “You’ll want to see this too, Reaper,” he adds.
Enzo walks over. The tether tugs between us, leaving my heart beating and my breaths short. I even recognize his walk—elegant, predatory, careful. Regal. My thoughts scatter as I walk over to the window. If I gain the throne, will I match that kind of grace? Can I persuade Enzo to follow us, find a way I can reliably control him?
Sergio points as we gather. “The camps. They’re burning.” He doesn’t have to gesture much for us to see what he means. A dark cloud of smoke and ash rises over the land where the camps are set up. Even from here, we can see patrols of Inquisitors making their way through the camps’ rows. Their white cloaks are a stark contrast against the green and brown of the land. There must be dozens of them.
“Do you know what’s happening?” I ask Sergio.
He nods. “The rumors have been flying through the city and the villages,” he replies. “The queen has demoted Teren from his Lead Inquisitor title. He is to leave tomorrow to inspect the southern cities.”
“Demoted?” Violetta exclaims. “The queen relies so heavily on his power. Why would she send him away?”
Magiano shrugs, but his eyes glow bright. “He either upset her, she finds him unreliable, or she has no more use for him.”
“Teren has angered my sister,” Enzo says. “Disobeyed her. He will do it again.”
“But he’s the queen’s lackey,” Magiano says. “He—”
Enzo raises an eyebrow. “I remember that rumor. He has been in love with my sister since he was a boy. He would give his life for her, but he will not be sent away from her side. Not even by her. He is convinced that her well-being is in his hands.”
Even though I don’t know the details of what happened, I know immediately who must have come between them. Raffaele. He is working his power, and the Daggers are closing in. That means Beldain’s navy may make their move soon. I look down at the scene. Why are they burning the camps?
And then it comes to me. If the queen has sent Teren away, he must be furious. If the queen has rejected his wish to destroy all of Kenettra’s malfettos, then he might have turned his back on her. He is going to carry out his plans, one way or another. He will kill the malfettos today.
He will burn them all.
“We have to save them,” I whisper. “And I think I know a way.”
Pale eyes suddenly flash in front of my face, directly on the opposite side of the glass—as if Teren were right there, floating in midair, lunging for me. I choke on a scream and stagger back from the window. I lash out to shield myself. Teren, he’s here, he’s going to kill me.
“Adelina!” It’s Violetta, and her cool hands have grabbed my wrists. She’s pleading with me. “It’s okay. You’re okay. What happened?”
I blink as I look at her, then back at the windowpane. The pale eyes are no longer there. Sergio and Violetta stare at me in concern and confusion. Enzo’s lips are tight. Magiano has a serious look that I rarely see on him.
One of my illusions, run rampant. It’s happening more frequently now.
Enzo approaches me first. He offers a hand, then helps me to my feet with one effortless tug. I tremble at his touch. “Steady, little wolf,” he says gently. The words are so achingly familiar that I want to collapse against him. Behind him, Magiano looks away.
I shake my head and let my hand fall away from his. “I thought I saw something,” I mutter. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure—?” Sergio starts to ask.
“I’m fine,” I spit back. He blinks, startled at the venom in my voice. I’m startled too. Immediately I tone it down, then sigh and run a hand through my short hair. Beside me, Enzo watches me carefully. I know he felt the way my energy lurched through our tether. He knows. But he doesn’t say anything.
I can’t stand everyone looking at me. “I’m fine,” I repeat, as if saying it enough times will make it true. The image of the pale eyes appears again in my mind. I shudder. Suddenly, the room feels too small, the air too thin. I turn away from everyone and hurry out into the narrow hall leading down to the stairs.
“Hey.”
Magiano catches my arm and spins me around. His pupils are round now, and his eyes a soft honey. He frowns. “Another illusion out of control, wasn’t it?” he says. “Has this always happened with your powers?”
“It’s not unusual,” I grumble, even though I know it’s not true.
“When did it start?” When I don’t answer right away, Magiano’s voice hardens. “We have pledged ourselves to putting you on the throne. We deserve an answer. When did it start?”
I’m silent.
“Was the time in Merroutas your first? In the gondola?”
I feel as if illusions were lying in wait right outside my line of sight, ghosts waiting to appear. I can’t hide it from Magiano. “It happens after I kill,” I whisper.