Alexia pulled back from the mirror and removed the mask from her face. The hollow shock that had run through her when Corinne had reported what she’d found left Alexia feeling strangely detached, empty.

What Corinne had found—the nima—that sounded unmistakably like what Alexia had seen surrounding Vivek’s death. Which now made two instances of something that shouldn’t be happening. That shouldn’t be possible.

How fortunate for Alexia that Corinne had decided to confide in Lady Snow. Otherwise, she might never have heard about the distorted nima on Pax. Now that she did know…what was she going to do about it?

She could tell Tōru and Roderich. She would tell Tōru and Roderich. Just…not yet. The minute she took this to them, explained what had happened at the estate, it would become a thing, and Alexia wasn’t ready for that.

A knock on her door, Legionnaire Reina. A whisper to the nima and Lady Snow’s face became Alexia’s again. Another whisper to the nima and the door swung open.

Reina bowed. “Excuse me, my Emperor. I don’t meant to disturb you, but Lord Alexander is here.”

Alexander. Now that was unexpected. “Thank you, darling. I’ll be right out.”

Reina retreated and Alexia took the time to compose herself. Corinne had noticed that she was not at her best. It wouldn’t do for Alexander to pick up on the same thing, to ask questions. So after a moment to breathe, Alexia smoothed her jacket, put on her best smile, and emerged from her private suite to the waterfall garden where Alexander would be waiting.

It was hard for Alexia to look at her grandson and not still see the boy who laughed brightly as she conjured sparkling colors in the air, or who had raced like a wild thing across palace ground while his mother called out for him to stop.

This elegant young man waving soft patterns into the falling water seemed almost a different person. Except for the quick flash of smile as a sudden splash surprised him—that was the Alexander she remembered.

Currently, Alexander was Alexia’s only heir. The investiture—the spiritual connection to the nima that made the Emperor, Emperor, could only pass to a person who was already deep in the nima's favor. One had to be graced with all five adaptations, a situation almost as rare as being born without any.

The nima chose, and Alexia believed that in Alexander they had chosen well. He had a good heart, a level head, and an easy charm. Or at least, that had been true the last time she’d seen him which, now Alexia thought about it, had been almost two years.

“Alexander,” Alexia said, pushing her smile just a bit brighter. “I had no idea you were coming.”

He crossed the room to give her a hug. “I wanted to surprise you.”

“Consider me surprised.” As he pulled back, Alexia caught his shoulders and held him at arms length, looking at him. “How tall are you now? That all comes from your mother. How is she?”

He rolled his eyes in answer, following that with a quick grin. “She’s mother. Sorry she missed Shadow Court, but…”

But Kosuri Genette hadn’t left the City of Dancing Fountains, where she governed, for years.

Alexia didn’t even bother to inquire after Alexander’s other parent, her own flesh and blood.

“What brings you here to me?” she asked instead.

“Mother thinks I should be more involved with the court. That I need to broaden my education.” His voice shifted up to a pitch-perfect copy of his mother. “So I’m here. But on the bright side, Uncle Vik said he’d take me out to the Hub after he got back from Shadow Court. It’ll be my first chance to see the Breach for myself.”

A spike of cold ran through Alexia at the casual mention of Vivek. The unexpected reminder.

She answered almost without thinking, buying herself time with a lie. “Vivek has been detained in the City of Lights. I’m sorry, but he won’t be able to travel with you any time soon.”

So many lies that would have to be spun from Vivek’s poison. From his betrayal would come so many smaller betrayals. Now a new worry, new questions. Had Vik been making plans without intending to follow through? Or had he meant for this trip to happen after Alexia was gone, after Alexander had been invested. Surely no one would have allowed…so soon after…

Alexia couldn’t stand to think about it.

“Grandmother?” Alexander asked softly. Apparently noting her sudden discomfort.

“It’s nothing, darling.” She regained control of herself. “Politics. Don’t worry yourself.”

She was going to have to tell Alexander. She was going to have to tell her nieces and nephew. The cousins. They were going to ask why, and how, and Alexia herself didn’t have answers to those questions, so how was she supposed to talk to anyone else about it?

A little more time. That was all she needed. Corinne had found the scent of something on Pax, and she was smart and capable. She wouldn’t need much encouragement to look for answers, and she would do that without turning it into more drama.

After Alexia had those answers, then she’d tell Roderich everything. She’d tell Alexander. When she could explain it to her satisfaction. When she could understand why.