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“I do not control what she does,” Elian said. “Thicket can decide what she wants to do for herself.” He crossed his arms. “And the last time I checked, you don’t control me, either.”

A vein pulsed in Marcellus’ neck. “There’s autonomy and then there’s recklessness. The reason you are not in charge of her life is because you are just as incapable of separating the two as she is.”

Before Thicket could step in, Caspian stuck his head out from the doorway. “There you are,” he said. “Where in the twelve chalices have you been?” Unlike Marcellus, Caspian didn’t look angry. His features were softer, yet his eyebrows were still knitted together. Somehow, it made guilt churn harder in her stomach.

“I—”

“There is no time for explanations. Get inside. Lotta is distracting the Council by preparing refreshments, but their patience is quickly waning.” He looped his arm through hers and dragged her through the door.

The Council was seated around the kitchen table when they entered. Lotta bustled around serving tea and pastries, her normally placid expression stretched thin.

“Look who finally deigned to show up,” Count Armand said, raising the cup Lotta had just finished pouring.

Thicket’s fists went to clutch the fabric of her dress, but she refrained, pressing them against her sides instead. “I am sorry for the delay. I wanted to see how everyone was doing after the attack and didn’t anticipate it taking as long as it did.” More excuses rose under the weight of the Council’s gaze but she swallowed them down.

Count Armand’s gaze found Elian standing beside her, eyes narrowing into harsh, unforgiving slits. “The respectful thing to do would have been to wait until our arrival before going on a stroll with the former Dymrian Prince.” Beside her, Elian stiffened. “It was bad enough you sent that guard to order us around, the indecency to not even be present…”

Pain sprouted along her palms as the sharp tip of her nails bit into her skin.

“Her Highness’ dedication to her people is admirable,” Caspian said. “She must have worried about their state after her efforts to buy everyone enough time to escape. As you can see, Miss Vogeli, everyone is safe.”

“Admirability doesn’t excuse poor behavior,” Count Armand muttered, taking a sip of his tea.

“Hush, Armand,” Duke Deveraux said. “Etiquette is hardly the most pressing issue at the moment.”

“Is it true?” Thicket asked, unable to hold the words back any longer. “About Alouette being abducted?”

“Unfortunately, it is,” General Cales said. “King Artus sent word a few days ago. His troops were ambushed on their way across the border. A few dozen men were killed and, in the chaos, Princess Alouette was taken.”

“What does this mean for us?”

General Cales’ lips pressed into a grim line. “Dymree is withdrawing their alliance. Vindrya is on its own.”

Shock reverberated through Thicket, crashing into each and every one of her bones until her knees threatened to buckle. Dymree couldn’t withdraw their alliance. Not after everything she had done to secure it.

“Why?” Thicket demanded. “If my sister is behind this, shouldn’t Dymree want to help us beat her?”

“The Soumort Princess didn’t abduct Alouette,” Caspian said slowly. “The Desert Kingdom did.”

Thicket sunk into one of the chairs. She couldn’t wrap her mind around the words, let alone form a proper sentence.

The Desert Kingdom abducted Alouette?

“What purpose does that even serve?” Bern demanded.

“Perhaps they are working with the Soumort Princess?” Count Beauregard supplied.

“I cannot see how that would serve the Desert Kingdom,” General Cales said. “If either of them wanted an alliance, they certainly had an opportunity to negotiate one.”

“There is a possibility the Desert Kingdom’s attack has nothing to do with our conflict with Lavender,” Elian said. “Even with the Treaty, the Desert Kingdom never forgave Dymree for hunting their phoenixes, especially after Dymree refused to return all that was stolen from the phoenixes, arguing that it wasn’t part of the Treaty.”

“The logistics are of little importance,” Caspian said. “What matters now is devising a new plan before the Soumort Princess attacks again.”

Elian’s lips flattened, shoulders sinking.

“What about our original plan to use Sleeria as a bade to launch our attack?” Duke Devereaux asked.

General Cales knit his fingers together. “Without Dymree’s support, storming the castle will be risky.”