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I squeaked, “Criminal?”
The trio’s attention turned to me.
“It appears the human hears after all,” the woman on the left said. “Come forward.”
Ash growled, a low rumble I felt in his secure hold. “What’s this about, Rinlora?”
“If she refuses to speak now, then we will have no choice but to pass judgment for her crimes without a trial.”
Zeke moved closer to us. “Trial? What crime?”
The woman on the right canted her head, speaking in a soft tone, like one used on a child. “Prince Alakai, your parents are fraught with worry. Cornaith hasn’t sensed your life force for far too long. The council has long exhausted their magic searching for each of you.”
“That doesn’t answer my question, Roandra.”
“I suppose not.” She folded her hands and nodded. “It is a lot. This is not the time, nor the place. You shouldn’t concern yourself with trivial matters. You’re safe now.”
Didn’t the princes protect both Elyrdin and Earth from danger? Wouldn’t what led to their absence be their business?
I didn’t like the way the woman spoke to Zeke, as if he were a small child who understood nothing of the adult world. It bothered me that she wanted to exclude him from the conversation.
“How did Father find us? Ranthus, tell me what happened.”
For once, I felt gratitude for Ezra’s stern, no-nonsense approach.
The short man—Ranthus—stepped forward. “Young Master, your father learned that a human”—he thrust his hand in my direction—“used forbidden magic and manipulated the shimmering veil between our worlds, drawing you from Elyrdin to weaken the royal line and disable Kalthea.”
I stepped around Ash, dumbfounded. Had I heard right? “I did what now?”
Zeke’s hand curled around my arm and pulled me back. “Don’t get close to them,” he whispered in my ear.
Elyrdin couldn’t exist without souls entering Kalthea; its sustaining magic would vanish. What would happen if the slipstream stopped working? What happened to other infernals like the princes without souls powering their home? Ash said the surrounding area held dangerous, lesser infernals. Would the Shyrlivi be in danger without Elyrdin?
I’d never endanger another species like that.
“Prince Alakai, please step away from the human before she causes you further harm,” Roandra said in that same mild, patronizing voice. I wanted to punch her in the mouth for looking down on Zeke.
“I’d never hurt him,” I said, irritation leaking through. I crossed my arms. “I’ve done nothing wrong and have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Roandra and Rinlora shared a look and stepped forward alongside Ranthus. Despite different speaking styles, their synchronized movements were eerie. Their identical appearance only highlighted the uncanny effect.
Ash stepped around me again and flanked Zeke, blocking the trio’s view of me. “Do not come near her. The council may have sent you, but we outrank you, and you will not touch her without our say.”
Roandra squinted, annoyed by the reminder of her position. How was she allowed to serve royalty acting this way? “Young Masters, why do you hide the human?”
“Put this on,” Ezra said, making me jump. I hadn’t noticed him move.
I took the pajama pants without arguing. Something in his tone made it clear I shouldn’t question him. I pulled the pants on over my shorts and tied the bow at the waist, then caught Cyn staring at me from near the refrigerator.
“I think there’s been a mistake,” Ash said. “You seem to be under the impression that she’s harmed us, but as you can see, we’re fine. Your suspicions are unfounded.”
“Prince Cyriac,” Ranthus said, voice firm. “You may not be aware, but this human has manipulated your minds. You only protect her because she wills it.”
Cyn leaned against the refrigerator, crossing his arms. “Now, how is that? No human holds that kind of power.”
“We believe she’s connected to a faction in the Jinphni District that seeks to open a permanent gateway to Earth.”
Ezra moved around Ash and addressed Ranthus. “Where did you receive such intel? And how would she achieve that? We don’t even know if a human could survive in Elyrdin.”
