Nox was quite certain he had heard wrong, so he asked, “Say that again?”

His lover smiled widely. “We’re going to kill Headmaster Alzeron.”

With a sigh, Aldros spoke. “Thurin knew about you, Alzeron knew about you long before this happened. He planned to expose you so that they will have a reason to restart the war.”

Blood roared in Nox’s ears. “That’s ridiculous! Shadow Wielders aren’t banned in Faven!”

“No, but demons are hunted everywhere.”

Nox grimaced. That was the heart of the issue, wasn’t it? No matter what he say, he was capable of transforming into a demon. But how did anyone even know about it?

The answer struck him, and he growled, “Karsos. He told them?”

Aldros nodded. “That’s what most likely happened. He was last seen talking with someone in a cloak. We must presume it was a Thurinian spy.”

He should have killed him, tore him from limb to limb. But he supposed it would have made matters worse.

“So why are we going to kill Alzeron?” he asked.

Estella pursed her lips. “Because Faven isn’t going to allow your release to them. That’s what they want as recompense.”

“So they can execute me?”

“Presumably.” There was doubt in her voice though, and it made Nox wonder if Estella knew something he didn’t. The words of the king echoed in his mind, how Faven killed his wife, how she was simply defending him from the other Founders.

But why were they attacking him in the first place? He looked at Estella. Something about their current situation felt familiar.

“No, that’s not what they want,” he said. The more he thought about it, the more he grew certain. And it made sense now. So much sense.

“What do you mean?” Erian asked.

Nox stood up and began to pace. “The king mentioned to me that Faven killed his wife, and Erebos said something similar.” Everything was starting to fit now. “His wife went on a rampage, just like I did. She was protecting him.”

“Against Thurin?” Estella frowned.

“Against everyone, but the situation was definitely Thurin’s idea. They… They were trying to bring out Azrael.”

“Which they did,” she murmured as the realization hit. “And now they repeated it to you.” Her hands curled into fists. “Those bastards!”

He sank back next to her. “Why is Thurin so hateful of Faven? Something must have happened back then.” Something terrible that they held a grudge for centuries.

Estełla shook her head. “Historical records didn’t say anything. Not that it matters. They started this first. We have to finish it. If we kill Alzeron—“

“It would just prove that I’m a monster.” He stared at her eyes. “And it would prove that they were right to attack us.”

A heavy silence filled the room. Retaliation wouldn’t do them any good. There had to be a way to stop the war and cleanse Faven’s and his wife’s names at the same time. A way to find out and reveal the truth.

He could do it. He had a feeling that Thurin never wanted him dead but to get him, get Azrael. For what purpose, he didn’t know. But if he could infiltrate the nation, discover their plans and the history of their kingdoms’ rivalry, he could protect everyone. He could protect Estella.

“No.” Her gaze was intense and fiery. “I won’t let you.”

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He smiled and laced his fingers with hers. Even without the Resonance, he could feel her worry and anguish. “You know me so well.”

“Because I know how you think.”

“Then you know this is the only way.” Her grip tightened, but he continued. “If you give me to Thurin, we can prevent the war.”

“We’re not certain of that,” Aldros said. “And we don’t know what they will do to you.”

Nox shook his head. “No, we don’t. But more people would get hurt if we kill Alzeron now.” He drew a deep breath. “I will go with them. And if there’s a chance that I could convince them to stop, I will. But if that’s not possible…”

He sighed. Smiling faintly, he placed his lips on Estella’s knuckles.

“Then I will tear them apart.”

***

Deep into the night, when the quietness of the world enshrouded everything, Nox lay in his bed and stared at the ceiling.

He had been confident when he told Estella his plans, but now, alone in his room, doubt raged in his heart like a tempest. The truth was, he didn’t know what to do after he got into Thurin. They would certainly dampen his powers for longer, and there was no guarantee that he wouldn’t be executed, or even forced to transform again.

So many things they didn’t know, so many things that could go wrong because of it.

If only he could talk to Erebos. As much as he disliked the former Celestial, he was still Nox’s mentor, and he wouldn’t reach the Academy if not for his guidance. There were things only he knew—information that Nox needed.

But the group had agreed not to release the shackles yet. Not until they were far away from the town. It was a precaution he understood, and one he would do as well if he were in their place, even if it made sleeping and eating difficult.

So he lay there, still awake, listening to his own thoughts and the sigh of the trees. It was so quiet that he could hear the soft pattering of feet in the hallway drawing near.

Nox sat up, grabbing for the small knife he had been given, then relaxed. The door was sealed by a spell, and only Estella or Aldros could break it

He knew it wasn’t Aldros; the footsteps were light. Estella. He lowered the knife as the doorknob twisted and the door creaked open.

She stood outside, hidden by shadows. A key glinted in her fingers. Stepping closer, moonlight caressed her hair, turning it into liquid silver that flowed smoothly behind her—as smooth as the simple nightdress hugging her figure. His breath caught at the sight, and he swallowed the lump in his throat.

“You’re going to free my hands?” he asked.

Her lips curved upwards. “That depends. Are your hands going to be useful?”

“Ella.” He had no time for one of her games, even though he wanted nothing more than to let his fingers roam free along her body. He sighed. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

“I’m the captain, and also a princess. I can be anywhere I want.” She drew nearer, humming, twirling the key in her fingers. “I’ve been thinking. You can talk to Azrael?”

He shrugged. “He knows what I’m thinking. All the time. So, yes, I can.”

“All the time?” She frowned. Her eyes widened. “Wait. You mean all the time? Even during…”

He tried, he really did. But seeing her reddening face was too much. He burst out laughing, nearly falling back into the pillows. Estella stood there, her face frozen in mortification.

“That’s disgusting!” she said.

“Well, you enjoyed every time,” Nox pointed out once his laughter subsided. “Besides, it’s not as if he liked it any more than you did.”

She sat on the edge of the bed, still with that sour look on her face, still twirling the key in her fingers. Her eyes rove all over him, hesitant, but also hungry. A familiar look.

Nox arched an eyebrow. “Well?” The longer they waited, the likelier someone would discover that Estella was here.

She chewed her bottom lip. Then the key stopped spinning. “Father forcibly removed our Resonance.”

“Yes. He told me as much.”

“Then we’ll reforged it.”

Nox stared at her eyes smoldering with resolve. She misses it as much as I do, he realized. His heart ached, and anger bubbled within him—anger for the Thurinians, for Alzeron. For those who dared to ruin what should be a peaceful competition.

He offered her his shackles, a silent permission. And he saw how her eyes smoldered brighter. She sighed as she placed the key into the hole. “You know, I would have kept these. Until we’re done.”

“We can if you take out the crystals.”

Estella shook her head. “It’s embedded inside. We’ll have to break the iron to get them.” She twisted the key, and the lock clicked.

Nox didn’t know that such a sound could be so relieving. Estella gingerly unfolded the shackles, revealing a darkened ring around each of his wrists.

He rubbed them. The skin was tender and sore, but nothing that a simple healing spell couldn’t fix. He’d do that later. For now, his fingers itched for something else to rub.

Estella set the shackles on the bedside table, sending him a look that he knew all too well.

Wait.

Nox stiffened, retracting his fingers that were just inches from Estella’s waist. She stared at him, puzzled.

“Azrael,” he said. What do you want?

Tell the princess to grab your hand.

He frowned, but did as he was told. Erebos rarely orders him about. And when he did, he knew it was best to listen. He grabbed Estella’s hands, her fingers above his.

“Don’t ask me. He just told me to do this,” he said flatly at her bewildered expression.

“What does he—“

To show you and Nox the truth, princess.

Before either of them could speak again, the world went black.