A slow, rhythmic beep broke through the darkness of her mind, greeting her with silence. Memories flooded through her mind as she realized a mechanism to her left would be pulsing with soft violet light.

The Infirmary.

She was in the Infirmary.

Iliya's body ached as if she'd been drowned in tar and left to suffocate. She wondered if this sensation even came close, considering her lungs were burning as she took a few deep, rasping breaths.

Her abdomen burned as though she'd been stabbed with a weapon fresh from the forge.

Cracking one eye open, Iliya peeked around the room and found it empty. She blinked, vision honing on a figure sulking in the corner. The blond hair gave away enough, despite how puzzled she was that he was the only one.

"You're brooding," she rasped, her voice breaking against the gravel of exhaustion.

Noah's eyes widened as she spoke, his head snapping to her bed. He uncoiled from the chair quickly and lifted himself, brown eyes sullen and dark.

Iliya couldn't place the heartbroken look in his eyes.

"You're awake..." he whispered.

Bandages strained as she lifted her arm, the movement cut short.

Peering down, she noticed the mummified state of her body and stiffened. "Wha-what happened to me?"

"You've been unconscious for nearly a week."

He frowned, his gaze raking over her frame, searching for a place to begin. Noah's attention seemed distant. He forgot her question entirely and continued staring down at the bandages covering her whole abdomen.

"Noah," she croaked again. "What happened?"

Shaking his head, he snapped out of it. "No one is certain how, but— the Temple collapsed... You and Sorein were the only ones left inside and, well... The barriers protecting the City of the Lost from our plane were destroyed. You were both attacked..."

Noah began coaching himself as they shared another silence. Even as her vision blurred in and out of focus, she could see him mouthing things under his breath.

"Sorein–" she said, the taste his name a reminder. "Is he okay?"

He nodded, staring out the glass window into the entry room. Most of the Guards were at home with their families recovering or healthy enough to assist Destry now. Iliya had the entire room to herself, which was why she found it odd no one greeted her.

"Did he– I mean, was he the reason–?" Noah asked, barely audible. "They're not letting him in..."

Shock rippled through her body. "The reason for what?"

"Destry wants to speak with you before they allow him to see you."

"I don't understand."

"Your organs... Halavesta told us the internal bleeding was so severe you might not've made it a moment longer..."

Iliya took a deep breath. "I'm fairly certain there was a lot of general bleeding."

Her sarcasm didn't land well. The serious look on Noah's face hardened.

"They think he caused this?"

He nodded.

The chaos in her mind roared, filling her ears. Sorein would never hurt her. As much as she could muster, Iliya thought about their trip into the Temple. Her impulsive, idiotic decision to close the portal when she had no idea what she was doing. Sorein tried to stop her.

The faint memory of his grip around her legs as they escaped, the way he was yelling for Ezre seared into her mind.

Begging anyone he could think of for help.

Iliya shook her head. "H-he dragged me out... He saved me from the..."

Taqrias. There were Taqrias everywhere and nothing could be done once the barrier had fallen. How had they managed to escaped when–

Noah nodded. "I thought so," he answered sadly. "But you should know... Sorein is being watched. He might have secured the island, but Destry has all but condemned him to a chamber upstairs."

"Ezre–"

"Ezre doesn't believe Sorein would harm you or Azuris, but he's bound to Her Majesty's word."

Her gut clenched, imagining how worried he must be if she felt nearly dead.

"They will be holding an investigation, Illie."

"No..." she breathed. "No, no, why?"

"They plan to collect evidence and set a trial date," Noah explained, frowning. "He very well might be innocent, but the High Council is concerned he–"

"The High Council? Heilos, does the world think he's summoning the Taqrias?" Iliya snapped, failing to sit up again.

"The undead are everywhere now, Iliya. Most spirits can't interact with this plane, but there are souls and demons alike roaming the streets and it all comes back to him. His Sealing, his Temple, him."

"No..." she whispered again. The attacks, the barrier failing, the Council wasn't looking hard enough. Iliya swallowed in frustration, her eyes gleaming with tears. "They're not looking hard enough..."

"What are you talking about? First the Ceremony and now Azuris? Not to mention whatever happened in the Grand Archive neither of you want to talk about. He could have initiated the whole thing."

She shook her head aggressively, regretting the whirl of nausea that traveled through her. "Noah, who else has been at every single outbreak?" she ground out, her breathing labored.

Her body throbbed with pain as she considered what she was telling him.

"Iliya, no. They know it wasn't–"

"Just listen to me! My mother knows, Ezre knows that it's been my affliction this entire time!"

His eyes narrowed in on her. "What are you saying?"

"The boat... The books... Noah, where are the books I brought to Azuris? I need you to bring them to me..."

Noah's brows furrowed. "Why?"

She held his stare. "So I can explain."

The hand he'd gingerly placed on her shoulder trailed down to the exposed runes glowing against her skin. Iliya blinked as she registered the absence of her rings.

"Where are they?" she stammered. "I have to have them on, I have to–"

"Iliya," he shushed her. "They broke. Those runes left third degree burns on your arms, why do you think no one is allowed in here?"

"But you are?"

Noah laughed softly. "I'm fairly certain Ezre thinks I'm stupid."

She would have laughed if her lungs stopped burning for even a moment. "Noah, go get those books, before something terrible happens..."

"It's too late."

"What are you talking about, I left–"

"When we reached the ship for safety, Ezre sent me back to Espova to retrieve Halavesta," he cut her off. "I needed to find out if they were worth hiding from the others, so I read them. They're safe in my room..."

Her heart hammered steadily, mouth drying out. "You read them?"

Noah nodded again.

"All of them?"

His eyes darkened.

"Not all, but I finished the one you showed me in Azuris and began another."

"I haven't even finished them," she admitted. "I couldn't when I found the information about Ionsia..."

Pausing for a moment, he considered his next words carefully. "We have a lot to discuss."

"You've read the books," Iliya replied. "You understand my condition better than I do, I'm sure."

Noah sighed, shrugging. "On paper, you're the one who lives with it."

Exhaustion began creeping up on Iliya again, her stomach clenching in pain. Grimacing, she sunk into the pillows. Between the politics and the trial, Sorein might regret growing close to her yet.

She felt the presence of another watching from the dark window, but couldn't tip her head far enough to catch a glimpse. A frown pulled at her lips.

"This is a nightmare..."

Noah had crossed his arms and slowly paced around the room for a few minutes. She watched his jaw clench and work before turning to face her again.

"If this goes the way I expect, you and I need to be on equal footing," he said. Noah's gaze lingered on the window before continuing. "Do you remember what I offered you at the lake?"

"That you know what it's like to be cursed... That we could talk, if we ever needed someone to listen. I remember."

"I was not blessed by Taranis. My father committed treason against the first King of Nynoli and began a civil war that lasted the majority of my childhood," he said, exhaling. Noah wouldn't meet her gaze as he continued. "As punishment for the wrongful death of his grandson, Taranis took something from my father in turn. His right to an Heir and my ability to succeed him."

Words failed as she opened her mouth, closing it again. Shock tore through her as Noah continued.

"Nynoli values mortality above all, such is what makes our country unique... Death is sacred. So my permanence became worse than any title you could strip from my father, be it Lord or Captain."

Noah leaned against the wall, dejected frustration emanating from him.

"Taranis made my father a deal, though. If I found my way into another's court, he would have his mortality returned to him."

"But what about you...?" Iliya whispered.

Noah shook his head.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered, knowing how little he wanted to hear it. "That can't be-"

He lifted a finger to stop her. "I'm telling you this for a few reasons... I know you understand what it's like to value mortality, I trust you'll be discreet, but..." Noah let out a long sigh and gathered his composure. "If this investigation takes a turn for the worse, you're going to need a plan."

"That's why you became Sorein's Diplomat, to serve him?"

Noah's brown eyes were flat and lifeless when he finally held hers. "No. For all I care, my father can rot in this life along with me. I've never used anyone. But it will make things much easier when the time comes for us to save Sorein."

"How so?"

"Andrin knows I have a deal with my father, but not what it entails."

Iliya swallowed uncomfortably. He was right, she would. Once again, she'd never thought that far ahead.

"You're right..." she muttered.

"I'll have your back."

The sentence was foreign to her and sat strangely in her stomach. No one had ever said that to her, though Sorein had come close.

"My back?"

He nodded. "Yes."

Still shocked by his revelations, Iliya hummed to herself. She really did like the sound of that.

A knock at the door disrupted her thoughts and Iliya felt her spine tighten as Destry stepped into the room.

"Is this a bad time?"

"No." Yes. Definitely.

Noah smiled politely to the Queen and gave Iliya's ankle a quick squeeze before departing. His friendly demeanor was completely disarming to her mother.

She watched as Destry chose to skirt around the bed, sadly eyeing the bandages wrapping her body.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

Her legs ached, her arms burned with gashes from the Taqrias, and she didn't even want to know what would be going on in her head without a raging migraine. Iliya found herself wincing at the question, frustrated.

"Exhausted," she offered with a sigh. "Everything hurts."

Her mother frowned.

After years of observing, she knew when Destry's mind was somewhere else. The Queen of Chiori stood in front of her, a worrisome look on her face as if pain lanced through her the way it did Iliya.

"Iliya... I need to know what happened in Azuris..."

She sighed, trying and failing to relax into her cot. "Where's Sorein?"

"He suffered severe burn out in the attack," Destry answered. "He's been recovering in one of the spare rooms."

Iliya looked away, focusing on the door. Of course he would deplete himself for Azuris and they could still believe he caused this.

"Darling, I–"

"No," Iliya bit out. "You weren't even there and now you want to send the man who saved my life to trial?"

"I need you to tell me what happened."

"I was the one..." she said, eyes watering. "We found the portal in the antechamber and I thought I could stop this. I took my rings off and put my hand through the portal, I tried to close it."

Destry paled. "You did what?"

"I took my rings off," she snapped, a tear streaking down her cheek. Iliya lifted her gaze to meet her mothers. "Perhaps if you'd told me of my condition – this, this Ionsia – sooner, I might not be in this mess."

The Queen stammered, grappling for words.

"I might understand the odds are stacked against him, but prosecuting Sorein just because of The Final Ceremony is–"

Destry shook her head. "After the Final Ceremony and the attack in Azuris, there is talk he may be responsible for his mothers illness..."

"What in Heilos do you mean? He's done nothing but try to cure Elsie's ailment!"

She turned stark white now, even more sickly.

"Elsie is dying, Iliya... There is evidence she is the one who opened the portal you encountered."

Her heart shuddered.

What evidence?

Sorein had been with them in Chiori Faire for almost a month now, how could he help her open a portal?

"He saved my life!"

Her mother's expression contorted.

"I need to speak with him," Iliya said.

Destry shook her head again. "I'm afraid that won't be possible."

"Why?"

"Because the first hearing began ten minutes ago."