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magic stuff, and then we nail them to the fucking wall. Done and done.”

Kai shook his head, a headache forming behind his eyes. “It could be

anyone, not just the elders. This plan, whatever it is, was set in motion

some time ago. It’s quite possible that whoever is behind it is also

influencing the Court.”

“It could be anyone,” she deduced. Her shoulders slumped, and her

expression melted into a mask of worry. “A guard, a family member, or

even someone from another island—is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes, Ivy, that’s exactly what I’m telling you.”

“Okay.” She stared down at the floor, her eyes glassy and her gaze

hollow, distant. “We have to start somewhere. So, what do you suggest?”

The vidscreen over his desk flickered, and Lorcan’s face appeared in

a small box at the bottom right corner. “Vasili, sir, the Court of Elders

has just arrived at the citadel. They are requesting a meeting with you

and Lady Ivy.”

“Escort them to the dining hall and have the kitchens prepare a

dinner for our guests.”

“Very good, sir.”

Ivy tilted her head to the side, a grin stretching slowly across her lips.

“Food? You’re thinking this might take a while, aren’t you?”

“I think it’ll take as long as necessary.”

“Spoken like a true politician.” Sashaying over to where he sat behind

the desk, Ivy insinuated herself between his knees and leaned in to press

their lips together. “Whatever you need, I’ve got your back. We’ll figure

this out together.”

Pulling her into his lap, he claimed her mouth in a proper kiss.

“Together.”

“Oh, my dear child.” Ava Blackthorn hurried across the dining hall when

Ivy entered, wrapping her in a gentle but fierce embrace. “I’ve been so

worried about you. I wanted to come sooner, but of course, you needed

rest.” Her eyes narrowed as she surveyed Kai over Ivy’s shoulder. “How

do you feel?”

“I’m much better, thank you.” The way Ava fretted over her,

touching her cheeks and tsking at the amount of weight she’d lost, filled

Ivy with warmth and wonder.

“If you need anything, you tell me. Do you understand?”

Ivy grinned sheepishly and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Have you eaten?” Ava persisted, still fluttering around her.

“I have. I promise I’m feeling much better. Please, don’t worry about

me.”

Ava huffed and shook her head as she reached up to pat Ivy’s cheek

again. “Nonsense. Of course I’ll worry about you.”

“So, this is what it’s like to have a mom,” Ivy mumbled, unware she’d

spoken aloud until she saw the look of dismay on Ava’s face. “Oh, I

didn’t mean…I just…I’m sorry.”

Embarrassment heated her cheeks, and she worried her bottom lip

between her teeth. She hadn’t meant to insinuate that she expected

anything from Ava. She’d just been so overwhelmed by the woman’s

kindness and concern. The closest her own mother had ever come to

expressing worry was when she’d informed Ivy that it probably

wouldn’t hurt her to lose a few pounds.

“Yes,” Ava answered gently, slipping an arm around Ivy’s back to

lead her toward the table. “This is what it’s like to have a mother who

cares, and you might as well get used to it.” Her arm tightened,

squeezing Ivy gently.

Loud squeaks rent through the air, and the clatter of tiny hooves

against the tiled floors echoed around the dining hall. A
bekshin
only

slightly bigger than Hamlet came trotting up to him, lifting her flat nose

into the air to chuff and snort. Her cloven hooves had been painted the

most adorable shade of lavender, and sparkling purple bows rested

behind each of her floppy ears.

“Yes, yes, my love,” Ava cooed to the piglet. “I know you’re hungry.”

Ivy giggled at the exchange. “This must be Lilah.” The piglet Elor had

taken home as a gift for his beloved.

“It is. I never considered having a
bekshin
as a pet, but I just can’t

imagine not having her in the house now.” Grinning, Ava gave Ivy a

small push to get her walking again. “Now, come sit and eat something.

You’re still looking a little too pale for my liking, dear.”

Ivy didn’t know what to say, so she pressed her lips together and

nodded, allowing Kai’s mother to lead her to a chair at the end of the

table. Once Ivy had settled into the seat, Ava caressed her hair and kissed

the top of her head.

“Eat,” she insisted, taking the overflowing plate Elor passed her and

setting it in front of Ivy. “You’ll feel better.”

From the seat next to hear, Kai cleared his throat and smirked.

“Where’s my plate?”

“Are your hands broken?” his mother asked tersely. “I see no good

reason you can’t serve yourself. You are an adult after all.” The female

marched around the table and dropped into her seat with an icy glare at

her son. “Well, don’t just sit there.”

With wide eyes, Ivy shoveled as much food into her mouth as she

could, praying Ava wouldn’t turn that fiery temper on her. Leaning to

the side, she bumped her arm against Kai’s, sighing when his big, warm

hand landed on her knee.

“What in the world did you do to her? She seems really…put out with

you.”

“I wouldn’t let her visit,” he answered, not sounding apologetic in

the least. “As soon as she heard, she wanted to storm the castle and

mother you back to health. I told her you needed rest, not a nursemaid.”

“You did not.” Ivy jerked upright and forked another bite into her

mouth when Ava stared down the table at them. “Are you crazy?” she

whispered to her mate from the corner of her mouth.

“I’m quite sane.”

“I like her,” Ivy defended. “She’s a little intense, but it kind of feels

nice. My parents weren’t really the type to worry or coddle.”

Lifting his hand from her knee, he slid it around her waist, pulling

her closer to press a kiss to her temple. “She already loves you, and I

couldn’t be happier, but if it gets to be too much, tell me.”

Ivy would never say a word. “I’ll tell you.”

From the other end of the table, Elder Meadowlark cleared his throat

and stood, calling everyone to attention. “First, I’d like to say that I’m

pleased to see you looking well, Lady Dalton. You gave us all quite a

scare.”

Leaning back in her seat, Ivy crossed her arms over her breasts and

arched an eyebrow at the elder. He made it sound as if she’d tripped and

fallen down a flight of stairs.

“This matter with Sentry Nightstar is very troubling,” he continued.

“As the Court appointed him to your guard, I can’t help but feel some

responsibility.”

Ivy almost choked on the drink of water she’d just taken. “I’m sorry,

would you mind repeating that?”

“Please,” the elder reasoned, “how could we have possibly known

that Sentry Nightstar was so unstable?”

“Are you out of your—” Kai’s hand landed on Ivy’s thigh again,

squeezing in warning. “Yes, of course, Elder Meadowlark. How could

you have known?”

She understood the need for diplomacy, at least for the time being,

but it burned her ass to play along with the façade.

“We feel just wretched about this unfortunate incident,” Elder

Lakewood injected, her stormy gray eyes filled with concern.

Whether the worry was genuine or not, Ivy couldn’t tell, nor did she

care. She hadn’t come to the meeting for apologies or platitudes. She

wanted answers.

“Can we assume the problem has been corrected?” Elder

Meadowlark asked.

His implication was clear, but Ivy wanted him to say it. “How do you

mean?”

“Sentry Nightstar attacked the soulmate of the Vasili.” Elder Rayne

met the eyes of her fellow Court members, as though the news came as

a surprise to everyone. “Surely he has been put to death for his crimes.”

“As much as that would please me,” Kai answered, his voice ringing

through the hall, “the answer is no. Wyn Nightstar has been confined to

a holding room where he is being held for interrogation.”

“Interrogation?” Tak Meadowlark frowned, his small mouth twisting

into a scowl. “What is it that you hope to learn by questioning him? I

would have thought his motives were quite obvious.”

“Yes, he continues to insist that my mate is a terrible plague on our

planet, that she will bring death and destruction to our world.”

“Clearly he’s beyond reason.” Elder Ana Lakewood shook her head

almost sadly. “Perhaps death would be kinder.”

“I owe him no kindness,” Kai answered flatly.

Ivy fisted her hands beneath the table, chewing on the inside of her

lip to silence the accusations spinning through her mind. If the Court had

fallen under the suggestive influence of magic, the caster had done a

damn fine job. Not one of them seemed to be able to think for themselves,

all agreeing with one another before full sentences had even been

formed.

Elor Blackthorn sat up straighter in his seat and reached over to cover

his mate’s hand where it rested on the tabletop. “Son, what are you

suggesting?”

Looking down the table, Kai met his father’s gaze with calm

authority. “I’m not suggesting anything. I’m bluntly stating that Sentry

Nightstar was sent to attack my mate.”

Gasps and murmurs swept around the table. Elder Rayne looked as

though she might faint, and Tak Meadowlark dropped heavily back into

his seat.

“This is a serious accusation,” Elor said, his head down and his tone

solemn. “Do you have suspicions of who may be behind this?”

“A few,” Kai answered smoothly. “As the Court was the one to assign

the sentry, I was hoping perhaps the elders could provide some answers.

From where did you select Sentry Nightstar?”

“From the Northern Isle.” Elder Lakewood bit her bottom lip, her

eyebrows drawing together to form a shallow
V
. “Surely you don’t mean

to imply that Vasere Silveroak had a hand in this.”

Somehow, that wouldn’t surprise Ivy. Finn had been on her list as a

possibility, but she’d never given him serious consideration. With this

new information, she mentally updated her suspect pool, placing higher

priority on Finn Silveroak.

“Why not select a sentry from right here in Sommervail?” Ivy

questioned, earning her a few raised eyebrows.

Elder Meadowlark cleared his throat, looking highly uncomfortable

as his gaze darted around the table. “The guards in Sommervail are loyal

to the Vasili.”

“As they should be,” Kai’s mother added, her tone sharp and full of

disdain, even as she gently stroked the fur on her piglet’s back.

“Yes, yes, of course,” the elder responded. “However, the Court

thought it best to assign an impartial guard to Lady Dalton.”

“To spy on me.” Ivy nodded. She’d known it from the beginning, but

anger burned in her gut to have it confirmed. “You wanted someone who

wouldn’t give me special consideration because of who I am to Kai.”

“It was nothing personal,” Elder Lydia Rayne assured her. “Merely a

safety precaution.”

“With no regard for
Ivy’s
safety, my soulmate and your future Vasera

of Sommervail.” A low rumble vibrated through Kai’s chest, and anger

flared in his eyes. “Which brings us to the interesting question as to how

my mate is human. According to the Court, Xenon soulmates exist solely

within our world.”

“That sounds dangerously close to an accusation.” Leaning forward,

Elder Meadowlark rested his elbows on the table and issued a scathing

glare toward Kai.

“I assure you,” Kai answered back, “it was intended as so.”

“Kai!” Ava slapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide and

frightened. “Please.”

Kai ignored her, choosing instead to address the elders. “About what

else has the Court been untruthful?”

“It is written in the historical recordings.” Elder Lakewood answered,

as if that explained everything. She tilted her chin up, staring donw her

long aristocratic nose at Kai. “We’ve never had reason to doubt the

information.”

“Clearly, we do.”

Kai’s tone held so much icy condemnation, Ivy actually shivered.

“What about the attack on my ship?” she blurted. “We still know

nothing about who was piloting that vessel, but the danger is real.”

As she’d expected, the elders answered with variations of “our shield

protects us.”

“Our shield does not protect us.” Rising from his seat, Kai strode to

the end of the table and began pacing, waving his hands around in wild,

agitated motions as he continued. “Our shield suffocates us. If my

soulmate is human, it stands to reason many more Xenon mates are

waiting to be found in the universe.”

“And the universe is a pretty damn big place,” Ivy added, “a lot

bigger without allies. The Alliance knows about Xenthian now, and my

guess is that whoever shot down my ship knows about you as well.”

“What are you proposing?” Waving his hand around in a vague