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the harder it was for him to keep a smile in place.
    He missed her terribly. He wanted to search her out, but for his own sanity, he kept away.
    Just as Death had expected, talk of Usaeil and the Dragon King was overshadowed by the idea of a Reaper at court. Then it shifted away from the Reapers, briefly, when anger began to build as the males became irate with the idea of Usaeil choosing a Dragon King over one of them.
    The reasons and excuses as to why Usaeil should take one of the Light as her husband were varied, but all focused on one thing—children.
    The Light may have sided with the Dragon Kings against the Dark eons ago, but that didn’t mean they wanted any involvement with them.
    The exception to the rule seemed to be Rhi. The outrageous, wild, and sometimes reckless Light Fae was beloved by the majority of Light.
    Talin was shocked by this. He thought it might have something to do with her affair with the Dragon King and the way it had so abruptly ended. Not to mention the love everyone knew she still carried for her King.
    Then he heard a story about how Rhi had been so brokenhearted, she’d walked into the Dark side of the Fae realm where few come back. There was a small group who claimed that it was Usaeil who saved her. However, the masses said they knew it was her King.
    No one knew why the affair ended, or why the King continued to keep his distance from Rhi—though there was also speculation that Usaeil had a hand in ending the relationship. One thing was for certain, everyone trusted Rhi.
    Talin wondered if Daire knew all of this since he was trailing after Rhi. He couldn’t wait to ask Daire and compare notes.
    The anger throughout the court might have begun with the thought of Usaeil with a Dragon King, but it didn’t take long for things to turn back to the Reapers. And that’s when everything got interesting.
    All Talin had to do was sit back as one after another, the Fae began to claim others were the Reaper. Fights broke out. After one was broken up, another started. Magic was thrown until everyone quickly subdued both attackers.
    After the fights came the explanations of why those accused weren’t Reapers. Talin learned countless things about the families at court, and he suspected there were many secrets spilled, as well.
    By the third day, the accusations and fights continued. He kept out of the way, never condemning or taking sides. He merely observed.
    During a fight, he saw some new rumor making the rounds as people began to talk. It didn’t take long for it to reach him.
    “Did you hear?” the person next to him asked. “They say Neve Everwood has been hurt. It’s why she hasn’t been at court.”
    “Hurt how?” Talin demanded.
    The woman shrugged. “I don’t know.”
    His orders to stay away from Neve be damned. He had to know what was going on. Talin stalked out of the ballroom, searching for anyone from her family.
    It was Atris who found him.
    “Talin,” Atris called.
    He turned his head to find Neve’s brother running down the corridor to his right. “What’s going on with Neve?”
    “Thank the Light I found you,” Atris said when he reached him. “You need to come with me.”
    Talin didn’t budge. “Not until you tell me what’s going on.”
    Atris halted, his brow furrowing. “Didn’t Neve tell you?”
    “Tell me what?”
    Atris’s shoulders sagged. “Someone has been stalking her.”
    Dammit. He knew he should’ve pressed her further the other day. Talin’s need to get to her right then was overwhelming. “Is she all right?”
    “She was poisoned. I found her.”
    Poisoned? The room spun around Talin at the thought. “Where is she?”
    Atris moved to stand in front of him. “First, you have to calm down. My parents don’t know yet.”
    “They should.”
    “They will soon. I need you with Neve first. You’re the only one I trust right now.”
    Talin nodded. “Where is she?”
    “At her flat. Listen, Talin, someone has been going through her