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“I need theround chao after the murder of the royal family

“What? Like we’re suspects?” Dagon fired back

“Fuck yes, you are,” Hawke growled “Avi was just fine until oke you six up”

Dagon shot forward, but Zachariahhis forear hith “Knock it off She’s your princess too, and that’s where our loyalty lies”

But did it? That was the question we’d been asking ourselves since oken the Hunters Where was their allegiance? To Alek—our king, or to Zachariah—their leader?

“I spoke to my sister,” Talon offered “After she lether ent into stasis half a o, she told me that she hasn’t heard from the twins” He looked me dead in the eye

I glanced at my bare forearms to be sure, but there was no lie there

“And since Samuel used to…” Talon’s mouth lifted into a wry smile, “spend time with my sister, trust me, she would be one of his first calls if he wasn’t otherwise occupied”

I nodded and looked to Ajax

“Nope No one has contacted what’s left of ed

No lie

“I have no family left, only a few friends, and they were shocked to hear that we’d been revived No one has made contact,” Zachariah offered

Truth

I turned to Dagon and cocked an eyebrow

“Fine No one in e in my lands, and yes o”

Lachlan whistled low No wonder the guy was pissed

“No lies,” I told Alek “We’ve been through the security footage, and it shows exactly what Jocelyn said” The lavender-haired witch had told the truth for the entire day she’d been here, staying true to her word “We have to ask the Conclave to search the other territories There’s no other option”

Alek nodded “We’re exposing ourselves,” he said “I know that we are all aware, but it has to be said out loud and acknowledged What I am about to do will reveal our weakness—our inability to protect our own females, and it could lead to a vote of no-confidence if the other members of Conclave feel that we cannot retain control”