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She crouched, her robes spreading around her, her expression softening again. “Why did you do it?”

“It wasn’t on purpose,” I whispered, looking down.

I was exhausted after their interrogation and days of Ranthus’ questions, and I’d grown sicker than I’d ever been in my life.

“You took my boy from his home. The others too. We couldn’t find them. There must be a reason,” she said, her hand slipping from my cheek to rest on her knees.

“The Nyrith,” I said under my breath.

It was the only defense left to me. The only constant in everything Shane, the guys, and the book had said.

“The Nyrith?”

She kept her voice low. I couldn’t tell if she was hiding it from the cameras or the council, but I followed her lead.

“I’m their Nyrith.”

The skin between her manicured brows furrowed. “Which one? You’re human.”

“All of them. At least, that’s what someone told us.”

Her glossy lips parted, but no words came.

I knew she didn’t believe me. How could she, when even the guys weren’t sure? It defied whatever biological law tied pairings to the Shyrlivi. And there were four of them and only one of me.

The only reason I didn’t write it off was because I could sense their emotions and how their unique scents shifted with every change.

But was that the magic that manipulated us all?

“The ritual even used the word. I didn’t know what it meant until they told me,” I said, wondering if the ritual wasn’t just a spell to bring them to Earth, but something to link us together and trick all of us.

I chanced a peek at the guys.

Ash stood so still he resembled a statue. Only his eyes betrayed the turmoil underneath. Zeke’s hands were clenched so tightly I wondered if it hurt. Ezra gave nothing away, embodying the detached, emotionless leader perfectly. After meeting his father, I understood why. And Cyn… he looked between his mother and me with an expression I didn’t understand.

The only thing I knew for certain, without even looking, was that they were unhappy. The negativity seeped into my bones. Whether it was it displeasure at being here, hurt that I betrayed them, or something more… I couldn’t tell. I only knew they all felt it.

No matter why I’d been given this ability, I hated the thought of their unhappiness. Even if I didn’t get along with all of them, I wanted them happy and safe. That was why I’d wanted to help them get home.

They deserved to be comfortable. Safe. Happy.

With that in mind, I looked back at Lymsrana with tears in my eyes.

“I’d never hurt them.”

Her bright eyes, rimmed in black makeup, widened. She covered her mouth, stood, and retreated to Ardvaen’s side, shaking her head.

I didn’t know what she saw that made her respond that way.

Cornaith stepped forward and motioned to the guards. They hauled me up by my arms until I stood.

I blew a few strands of hair out of my face so I could see better.

“We will discover your accomplice whether you tell us now, or we extract your secrets from your mind after your death. Either way, they will pay—just as you will today—for violating the royal families.”

Cornaith turned to the camera.

“Our people need to know we will protect them. If we allow leniency to a criminal who stole their beloved heirs from their home world, our citizens will lose faith in our leadership. We can’t have that. Their trust is paramount.”