“Ezeas! I know you're here!” the shrill voice called through the manor.

Saelina tensed up and Ezeas put a hand on her shoulder. The effect of the touch was less than when he had touched her skin, but he still removed it, soon after.

“Stay here,” he said, before leaving her room.

He quickly made his way to Lyari, who continued to call for him, until she spotted him atop of the staircase. She rushed forward and threw herself into his arms.

“Are you hurt? Did she get to you?”

“What are you talking about?” Ezeas asked as he released himself from her embrace.

“It's all over the city! 'The human turned on her benefactors and viciously attacked them'. I told you humans can't be trusted!”

Ezeas stared at her.

“Who told you that? Nothing happened.”

“Don't lie! People saw her running through the streets with a knife in her hand! They said she sneaked into your house in the dead of night!”

He shook his head.

“Like I said, nothing happened. She showed up, but there was no attack.”

“Ezeas, people heard her scream at you. Why won't you admit the truth?”

“There's nothing to admit.”

Lyari's face twisted in anger.

“Don't you understand? What if she attacks someone else? What if she tries to kill a child or a newborn?”

“She wouldn't.”

“You can't guarantee that!”

Her voice broke and Ezeas paused as tears welled into her eyes.

“I know you care about her and about keeping her safe. But you have to remember your obligation. Niranna will need you.”

“Since when are you on her side?”

She hesitated and he saw a flicker of guilt cross her face.

“What do you know?”

“The Blades are planning something. They're stoking the unrest.”

Ezeas' insides clenched.

“How?”

“They're claiming there's a rift among the Shadows. Between you and your grandmother.”

“So they're making another attempt, while there's war on our doorstep.”

Lyari nodded.

“Grandfather believes our house will be better suited to lead us into battle.”

Ezeas tried to suppress the anger. He did not have time to deal with a coup, right then.

“He has a point, Ezeas.”

Her voice was so low, he had to take a moment to make sure he had heard correctly.

“You can't be serious.”

“Think about it.”

Though her words were barely above a whisper, they cut through the air between them.

“When did you last take time for any of your official duties? It's been months since you met with the council or took on any work for them.

“Niranne is no better, she's so focused on gathering forces, she's neglecting the people closest to her.”

“And you're busy nursing a jealous grudge and getting our greatest potential asset killed,” he pointed out.

“You're our greatest asset!”

She grabbed him by the arms.

“Unlike my House, I know you and Niranne are the best team to lead us. That's why I stayed by your side, why I accepted never wanting more than you could give!”

“Last we spoke, you seemed perfectly content to throw it away, or did I misinterpret that?”

She let go, her expression a mix of hurt and regret. However, she seemed to quickly recuperate.

“Answer me honestly, Ezeas. Do you still think you're acting in Islasa's best interest?”

He opened his mouth, but she held up a hand as she continued.

“Putting my prejudices aside, it's not secret that Saelina has caused a rift among our people. I'm not saying she's at fault, she never had much choice to begin with. Nevertheless, please consider how things would be if she had not been there, at the ball.”

He paused, mulling over the question and its implications. His teias had made it clear he was not to agree with her attending the ball. But once she was seen, things had become less certain. He had assumed it was not a matter of her lack of attendance but rather his disagreement which was necessary. But perhaps it had been to convince her not to show at all, and after it was done, no choice could avert the outcome.

“Even if that's true, disassociating from her, now, won't change what has already happened.”

“It'll give you the chance to remember what's important. Niranna can't keep control of the Council for much longer, especially when she's clearly at odds with her only heir, and I have no reason to support her, without you there.”

“Why are you even here, now? I made it clear you were to stay away from us from now on, did I not?”

She hesitated.

“When I heard about the attack, everything else lost its meaning. All that mattered was finding out if you were alright.”

Her words held a lot of feelings but none of them moved Ezeas as he kept his dark eyes on her, his expression severe.

“I know you have no reason to forgive what I did-”

“You're right, I don't. Partially because it's not my place to forgive your transgressions against someone else. But more than that, you have repeatedly shown me the truth of your character. Call it love or self-sacrifice if it helps ease your guilt, but for me, it's meaningless. As is this visit.”

He turned his back on her and left and she stayed, looking after him. As she turned towards the door, she spotted Saelina at the top of the stairs, looking down at her. Her expression showed no change as she ignored the human and left the manor.

Danger will not be suppressed.

And it won't ever end, will it? Saelina asked.

Stop hoping for a different answer from what you know!

She sighed and made her way down the steps, going in the opposite direction from Ezeas.

“Then I best start preparing,” she mumbled.

She made her way to the library and looked for the books, containing maps. She was studying a drawing of the borders between Islasa and Falos, when a servant informed her she had a guest waiting in Tiyala's office.

“Saelina! We need to talk!”

Miralise had not even greeted Saelina as she entered the room, her gaze filled with concern. The lady of the house stared at her for a moment, before ordering the servants to leave. Miralise hesitated, eyeing Tiyala.

“Rest assured, Miss Vadran, anything you reveal shall be confidential, even from my son.”

The younger nyx did not seem entirely convinced and the matriarch sighed.

“I'm not blind to my son's loyalties. I would rather not risk Niranne getting any information she shouldn't have.”

After another moment, Miralise nodded and sat down, though her body remained rigid and her gaze flickered around the room.

“Miralise, please tell me what's going on,” Saelina urged.

“It's about your ess- no, Dhíanvhúr's essence. It's...different.”

“Different how?”

It seemed the other was unsure how to voice her discovery.

“I'm not sure how this happened,” she said in a near-whisper, “but what you have...your bond. It's not just borrowed from Dhíanvhúr's power.”

She took a deep breath and looked Saelina straight in the eye.

“It's a piece of his soul. His actual soul.”