"It came through the Electi," Aix said three hours later.

Domi looked from one lifeholder to the next, feeling glum. At least Aix, Hedera, Edera, and Arbita weren't hovering over him at the moment, clucking over his health until they realized he wasn't lying about being fine. Instead, they huddled with Valens at his bedchamber table while Domi, banished to his bed, leaned against his headboard with a goblet of throat-soothing tea and glared.

They ignored him.

He set his drink aside on his nightstand and crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. It was just a stupid sniffle. His fever made the Trellis burn just a little brighter, nothing spectacular, and he barely felt sick. He was a Lightholder now, not suppressed and ill anymore like he'd been his whole life. He felt amazing compared to how miserable even the mildest colds used to make him. They were making a big deal out of nothing.

And he wanted a nap, but it was impossible to get one when they wouldn't stop blathering. He was a Princeps now, but when he'd demanded they get out of his room, everyone had just glanced at him and then returned to talking like he hadn't even spoken.

"It's spreading among the Electi?" Edera repeated Aix's words.

Domi scowled. He didn't know why she'd even been invited to this little meeting. The girl may have been a lifeholder, but she was also a kid. And she wasn't his real wife, just a fake. Edera had her royal suite connected to his own. He wished she'd just stay in it where he didn't have to see her, and yet here she was, avoiding his gaze.

"Yes," Arbita said. "The Electi seem to have been the first to catch it."

Valens shook his head, grimacing. "Great. Just great."

"What?" Domi asked.

Hedera sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose the way her son sometimes did. Domi glanced from one to the other, smirking. He doubted Valens would appreciate the comparison. But Hedera's words made his smile fade. "The Electi interact with everyone visiting the palace, Nepos."

"Young Sidus was not the first to fall ill with this," Aix added. "Half the Electi are sniffling."

Cold flooded Domi as he realized what they were saying. Sidus might just be sniffling, but Radix had become very sick. They were fine again, better than him in fact and resting now in Aix's quarters so their new aedificans could keep a closer eye on them. But what about all the other Pyrrhaei? One kiss and Domi had given this to his best friend. It spread so easily, and Pyrrhaei were so vulnerable compared to Lightholders.

His voice sounded small and far away as a roar grew in his ears. "So it'll soon be all over the palace. And the capital."

"It already is," Hedera said, her tone and expression absent as she summoned promenia that grew iridescent. Domi thought he recognized the thrum of a communique. "And it is far more dangerous for Pyrrhaei and Lightless than it is for us. Fifteen million lives are at risk. I have to notify the Princeps Lifeholder."

Domi trembled with dread, cold and dizzy, and the Trellis wavered with a sickly red ripple outside the window.

Aix glanced at him, frowned, and hurried over. "Basilicus?" He guided Domi to slump back against goose-feather pillows. "Lie down. Are you feeling worse?" Promenia hummed somewhere beyond the darkness crowding Domi's vision. And the patter of rain. Great. He couldn't do anything right.

"Don't heal him," Hedera murmured over the ringing in the boy's ears. "This illness is not dangerous for him and he needs to learn to use his prometus."

"I know, but he's very pale," the gray-eyed sorcerer said, worry thick in his voice. He pressed a palm to Domi's forehead. "No warmer than before, however."

"Let me see. He probably just got some stupid idea in his head." Domi blinked as Valens's narrowed gold eyes swam in his field of vision. "What's wrong, Alumna?"

Domi gulped. "I-I did this?"

"What?" Irritated exasperation swept across his aedificans's face, a strange reassurance. "No, you idiot. You just got sick with the others."

Domi clutched his black satin and velvet coverlet. "But I kissed Radix." Or rather they had kissed him, but still. He'd violated Solitude and hurt them.

"And Sidus too," Valens said, snorting. "So what?" Domi realized that the man was sitting on the edge of his bed, Arbita hovering behind him and Edera blinking in surprise behind them both. "It was already spreading anyway."

"Though you should not have broken Solitude to kiss anyone," Arbita pointed out, shaking her head as Domi wilted in mixed relief and embarrassment. "But no, you didn't cause this."

"Still, you need to try much harder in the future to keep yourself safe," Hedera said. "Normally I am not an admirer of the practice of Solitude, especially for people your age, but in times like this, it is a necessary evil. The health of the planet depends on your good health, Nepos."

Domi nodded, focusing on his coverlet. He may not have made everyone sick, but he'd still endangered them. Again.

Valens studied Domi's face for a moment and then rolled his eyes at the lifeholders. "Enough. There's only so much you can get through his thick skull at one time." He cast the door a pointed look. "Now, get out. All of you. You have an illness to stop and I have a lesson to continue."

"Lesson?" Domi whined. He had not felt terrible before, but if he had to have this runny nose, sore throat, and mild fever, he might as well milk them for all they were worth. "But I'm sick."

"Exactly," Valens said, shaking his head and eying Domi knowingly. "Just because Sidus is too lazy to use his prometus to alleviate symptoms doesn't mean you get to slack off too. You need to learn better control over your body." He flicked a dismissive glance at the door. "So everyone get out."

Edera bit her lip. "Can I stay? I can help him learn to--"

"No," Domi said. "You go too." No one else ever listened to him, but at least he could make one person do what he said.

He ignored her slumping shoulders. She just wanted to be near and enjoy the prestige of closeness with a Princeps. She could siphon social influence or whatever she was after off him some other time.

Arbita flicked him a disapproving look and wrapped an arm around her niece's shoulders. "Come with me and Hedera. You can help us prepare our briefing for Princeps Oliva."

"I don't care where you all go," Valens said. "Just get out." He glanced at Domi. "And you, close your eyes and start breathing."

Domi sighed as he and the others obeyed his aedificans's annoyed command.

<>

Three chimes reverberated through Domi's skull and rang in his molars.

Eyes snapping open, he hissed as the radiant darkness rippling in his mind's eye fled. "Crap," he snarled and pounded his fists on his coverlet.

Valens, sitting on the edge of Domi's bed, shook his head. "Last I checked, beating your blankets isn't a useful way to enter your prometus, Alumna."

"Dae's stupid communique distracted me." Again. And each time Domi started to get just enough control to adjust his body temperature under Valens's careful coaching, a sudden wave of heat soared through him, sending his fever spiking anew and ruining the whole thing. What was Daedalus doing? He gritted his teeth, headache pounding harder, though whether with frustration, fever, or magical exertion he didn't know. "I almost had it that time. He's so annoying!"

Valens arched a brow. "You're in a mood."

"Well, I can't do anything right, and none of you are helping."

His aedificans treated him to an unimpressed look. "I rest my case." Sighing, the older worldholder rose to his feet and rearranged his paenula with a practiced sweep of his arm.

Domi frowned. "Where are you going?"

"Away," Valens said with a snort. "We'll continue our lesson later."

"Later?" Eyes devour, Valens couldn't go now. Domi had gotten so close. He'd seen the radiant blackness cast by his prometus, immersed himself in its pool of shimmering shadow, and started attuning to its bellsong, just like Valens said. He'd given his prometus suggestions, nudging it to work harder to cool his fever, and it had seemed to work until Daedalus messed it up. And now Valens was leaving? "When are you coming back?"

His aedificans's golden eyes narrowed down at him. "When you're tired enough of feeling sick and tired to concentrate, Alumna."

"But Daedalus--"

"Is on the dead opposite side of the world." Valens regarded him coolly. "Don't blame your brother for your failings. Just try harder. Tomorrow."

Domi clutched his coverlet. "But--"

"Good night, Alumna."

Domi scowled at the back of the door after his arse of an aedificans left. How was he supposed to learn to do anything if Valens wouldn't bother teaching him? It wasn't his fault that he couldn't concentrate.

Three bells chimed between his ears.

Domi's eyes narrowed. He regretted giving Daedalus blanket permission to contact him directly whenever the other boy wanted.

Growling under his breath, he yanked the promenia particles out of his head and snapped the communique open. No images or words unfolded, just a sharpening sense of intention and query that echoed from the ambient iridescent light wavering in his mind alone; his obnoxious twin was waiting for him in the Caeles.

Grumbling, he accepted the invitation and glared at his brother the moment the gray mists solidified into the snowy peach orchard. "What?"

Daedalus frowned right back at him. His wore a heavy clivia blue hooded paenula with a ruff of thick fur framing his face. The Caeles rippled, blurring his face. "How kind of you to finally respond, Basilicus."

"I was busy, Daedalus," Domi said, crossing his arms.

His twin shook his head. "You do not understand how difficult it is to access the Caeles out here. We are deep in the ruins and far from the Trellis isle. The rogue promenia keeps--"

"What do you want, Dae?" Domi cut in, ignoring his brother's frustrated look. "I'm trying to learn to adjust my prometus."

Daedalus nodded. "That is what I wish to discuss with you. I need you to stop."

The Caeles disappeared like it had never been there.

Sitting atop his bed, Domi's brows knit. "Stop?" Three chimes sounded in his head. Rolling his eyes, he entered the Caeles peach orchard again.

"Sorry," Daedalus said. His face was less blurry this time but still rippled. "I need to make this brief. The Trellis isle may be under repairs again."

"You said you wanted me to stop practicing with my prometus?"

His brother nodded. "I would like you to stop adjusting your body temperature down. Mine keeps following suit." His lips tilted in a small smile. "It is quite cold here and we must be cautious about our fires, lest we attract bestias. I need to be able to warm myself."

"Can't you just bundle up more?" Domi grimaced. "Every time you mess with your prometus, my fever spikes."

"Fever?" His twin studied him, worry darkening the brown eyes they shared. "Are you unwell?"

"I'm fine. It's some puny cold but everyone's mad because I violated Solitude."

Daedalus blinked and then fixed Domi with a stern frown. "Whyever would you do such a thing? The Rite of Solitude is sacred, Domi. You need to use the time to commune with the Eternal Radiance. That is how the divine blessings are renewed for the world."

"You've got to be kidding me," Domi scoffed. He could not believe Daedalus believed that crap. "Solitude is just to keep me from getting stressed and stuff. And keep me from getting sick." Or passing it to others, like Radix. He swallowed hard.

Daedalus's disappointed look softened. "Domi, I can feel your guilt here, remember?" The Caeles shifted over his gentle look like water, steadying again a moment later.

Domi scowled. Valens hadn't taught him how to avoid projecting his emotions into the Caeles. "Alright fine, I'm sorry. But being Princeps is horrible and I didn't want to get stuck in Solitude too and separated from Sidus and Radix and everyone."

Daedalus sighed. "Brother, I understand the pressure you feel. Truly, I do. But your duty is paramount." He spread his hands. "And recall, you bear enormous responsibility, but with it comes great privilege. Every child dreams of being a Princeps. You have the good fortune of living that dream."

"Fortune?" Domi scoffed. "How am I fortunate to be chained with a planet-sized burning shackle? This thing is a curse."

Domi could not feel Daedalus's emotions, but for once they were written all over his normally-reserved twin's face. Shock. Scorn. Fear. "You cannot say such things, Domi. It is blasphemy. The Eternal Radiance has given you a magnificent gift. If you spurn it, the Divine Light will take it away."

Something bubbled up in Domi. The desire to laugh? To cry? Scream? "Well that would be wonderful," he snapped, throwing his arms out to the sides. He tilted his head up to the violet sky, glaring at the flickering illusory Trellis. He doubted it was flaring only in the Caeles, but for once he couldn't bring himself to care. He was so tired of the thing. Its awful burning weight. Its insistence on reacting to every little thing. Its suffocating demands. Its priority in everyone's lives. "Take it, for all I care, Eternal Radiance," he shouted. "I never wanted it. And I doubt You want me to have it either."

"Domi," Daedalus snapped, inches away from him in the blink of an eye. He grasped the younger twin's shoulders. "You cannot say that. Stop. Go now and practice your breathing. You must attend to your Solitude and try harder to do your duties as Princeps. It is shameful to behave this way. The world needs--"

"Like you could do better," Domi snapped.

He didn't mean it the way it sounded. If Daedalus had been in his shoes since birth, suppressed, denied training, and raised a Pullatus, he knew his brother would be as terrible at this as Domi himself was.

His twin, however, scowled. "I can and I did," he said coldly. "How swiftly you forget that I ruled for nigh a month before you took the Trellis from me." Domi opened his mouth to explain, but his brother raised his voice. "I would have performed my duties without flaw if not for you. If not for the resonance between us, I would still be ruling without fault. It is tempting at times to attempt to reclaim the Trellis the same way you took it, but the Eternal Radiance chose you to--"

An icy chill washed through Domi, followed by a surge of white-hot fury. He barely thought about the words as they shot forth from his mouth. "You know what? Fine, you can have it back. I never wanted it anyway."

Daedalus froze, eyes wide and face paling. "What? Brother--"

Domi dissolved the promenia holding him within the Caeles and found himself shaking atop his bed in anger. "I'm done," he gasped, shoving the coverlet aside and leaping from the bed. "Done with all of this."

He stalked to the wardrobe across from his bed, ignoring the bells chiming in his mind. His hands shook with rage as he shoved aside long silk paenulas, satin tunicas, and the jewel-crusted ceremonial vestments, then stilled when his fingertips found familiar thin, rough fabric.

Calm filled him, then. He was done.

With care, he rolled down the threadbare sleeve of his old tunica, holding his hand out to catch the silver-frosted cyan leaf as it tumbled free of its hiding spot. Already brittle and now dry as well, the quellwort crumbled in his palm, a bittersweet scent rising from the flaked leaves.

If Cercitis had managed to suppress Domi's prometus with the night-side herb without it doing anything to Daedalus, then so could Domi. If Daedalus wanted the Trellis back, it was time to give it back.

Taking a deep breath, Domi tipped his hand to his lips and smiled in relief as the herb's pungent, bitter flavor filled his mouth.