Chapter 24

The portals continued to flicker for hours, keeping everyone in the in-between in a state of panic. Selene eventually had to leave, to corral members of the Guard and give them orders, but I stayed in the post where she'd left me, as close to Austin—and hopefully Tallulah—as I could be without being able to pass through to their world.

I did my best not to be angry at the king and the Council of Shades, but it was a struggle. Why did it feel like we were never ahead in this battle? We had a dependency on either human fear or Hunter desire, and that put us at a disadvantage, but we had to start being more proactive, or we were going to be wiped out.

There were some shouts of alarm deeper into the in-between, and I dragged myself away from my post long enough to investigate, since I appeared to be the highest-ranking member of the Guard in here right now. The Captain had followed Astrid to the human realm, trying to get a read on the situation from the other side.

I stumbled to a stop, finding a group of ten Hunters of all ages standing in front of a portal, reeking of nerves.

"Hello," one man said tentatively, glancing around and seeming to realize that none of his party were going to speak. He was older, with deep lines around his face and thick gray hair. "We're here to fulfill the Hunters' side of the agreement."

"We would love to hear what that agreement is," I replied evenly, for once not minding as members of the Guard jumped out of my way so I could get to the front.

The stench of the man's fear was so acrid that it took everything in me not to move away.

"The agreement for us to move here as replacements for the two Hunters returned…?" he said hesitantly. It wasn't lost on me that every single one of this group looked exhausted, and not entirely healthy. Some of them had threadbare clothes, and they barely carried any possessions.

And they all looked unwilling.

"We were told to ask for Aither if there was any confusion," one woman whispered, staring determinedly at her feet.

Aither.

I gritted my teeth. That fucking traitor.

Selene appeared at that moment, barking orders to round the newcomers up and keep them in a secure location. She wasn't interested in soothing their nerves, and I could understand why. Though, a small part of me felt slightly guilty as they huddled together, escorted out of the in-between by a large contingent of the Guard.

"Someone needs to find Aither," I grunted, trying to keep my anger at a productive level.

Selene nodded once. "I'm delegating that task to you. I'll stay as close to where Austin and Tallulah are as I can get. If there's any change, I will send for you. Time is of the essence, but I need you to go to the stores and feed first, Evrin. You are of no help to anyone if you can't function."

As much as I didn't want to waste a single second, I sprinted for the storeroom in the palace, feeding as efficiently as I could before heading to the dining hall.

The higher-ups must have already been briefed, which saved me a task, at least.

"You're going to find Aither?" King Allerick asked, looking frazzled. With Damen watching over Iris, Queen Ophelia seemingly focused on Cora, and Soren in the human realm, he appeared to be managing the nervous court single-handedly and it was clearly getting to him. "He's not here—I'd have already sent him to the Pit if he was."

If it came down to it, I'd cheerfully, willingly execute Aither for his betrayal. But there was always a good chance that it would come back to haunt me if I did. Far better that I got him securely locked away at the Pit to face a trial instead.

But Guard resources were thin, and I was only one Shade.

"I can send for Damen—or Theon—if you need more support," King Allerick said, watching me closely, offering two of his brothers.

But I had brothers of my own, discordant and dysfunctional as they were.

"No need. I have a plan. I'll have Aither at the Pit in a few hours."

The king nodded, seemingly having unquestioning faith in my ability, which I hadn't expected. I headed straight back out, quickly taking stock of the in-between before going home.

Home to Marseden, where I'd grown up. I'd left the moment I came of age and joined the Guard, and I'd never been back since. It was eerie how unchanged the whole place was, though it had been in the family for centuries, and that continuity had always been a point of pride.

Roan was asleep when I arrived, and I half expected him to turn away the staff member who went up to wake him at the news that I was here. Instead, he appeared on the sweeping staircase, rumpled and frowning, but there.

"What is it?"

"Do you want to see Caius?"

Roan straightened, the tiredness clearing from his expression. "Of course."

"Then come with me."

He didn't question it, just fell into step with me as we headed out of the house and to the entry room I'd just arrived via. The route didn't take me past where Selene was patrolling, and as tempted as I was to take the long way and look, I had a job to do here.

Roan was quiet as we emerged into the region where Caius had made his home—a cold, damp area at the base of a mountain. It was a good spot for growing flux moss, which was the sole reason Caius lived here. It certainly wasn't for the ambience.

"Caius!" I called, banging on the door. "Can I come in?"

He mumbled a disinterested answer in response, which was about as much as I expected, and I pushed open the cracked circular door, leaving it wide so some much-needed fresh air would circulate in the single room residence.

Caius blinked disinterestedly from the bed before realizing I wasn't alone.

"What is he doing here?" Caius snarled, jumping to his feet and glaring at Roan, who was hovering in the doorway, taking in Caius's living situation in horror.

"He's here because I asked him to be here. We can return to the bitterness tomorrow. Right now, I need help. I need my brothers."

In an instant, Caius straightened, a clear, sober look in his eyes that I hadn't seen in years. This was the authoritative oldest brother I remembered. The one who'd been raised to lead the family, to uphold our legacy, before Roan had slyly issued a challenge and usurped him.

"What happened?" Caius demanded.

"The Hunters have taken my—" I broke off with a strangled sound, the word mate getting stuck in my throat. Tallulah wasn't my mate. She should have been, but she wasn't.

"My Tallulah," I said eventually, my voice hoarse. "My love. My future mate. The mother of my child."

"What is being done to retrieve her? Where is the captain?" Caius demanded, looking horrified.

"As much as possible, considering the circumstances." I exhaled heavily. "A new contingent of Hunters has arrived, claiming they were an agreed-upon exchange for the loss of Tallulah and Austin. They were given instructions to seek out Aither if there was any confusion."

Roan cursed loudly in our mother tongue while Caius's shadows flared dangerously.

"Aither and I are competing for the same position on the Council of Shades. We were both tasked with undertaking projects for the greater good of the shadow realm, and expected to report back on them this week," Roan explained.

"And you think this was his version of the greater good?" Caius asked sharply.

"It's ten Hunters in exchange for two," I pointed out as Roan shifted uncomfortably. "I suspect Aither would not have been so eager to cooperate with Lochan—the Hunter traitor—if not for the fact that he'd failed to initiate a courtship with Tallulah. He was probably… displeased that she chose me. I imagine he's not alone in those views."

"Fuck all those idiots," Caius growled, as though he hadn't been the first to remind me of my lack of horns every time he suspected I had developed an iota of confidence. "You have my full and unwavering support in this, Evrin. Whatever you need, I will be at your side."

"As will I," Roan volunteered quietly. For a moment, I almost thought I saw approval in Caius's expression, but then it was gone again. "He'll be at the apartment he keeps in Cartava, I imagine, in an attempt to lay low. I should be the one to approach him—Aither won't expect me to be working with you."

Undoubtedly, because Roan had said so many terrible things about me in his company in order to distance himself from me. Whatever. It would work in my favor now.

"Then, let's go," Caius said, naturally falling into his old role as leader. "Aither can give his presentation to the Council of Shades from the Curia during his trial."