"So...." Alaric said in between spoonfuls of his food, "You people seem to think that the reason Griffin and Roman haven’t communicated with you guys so far is because they lost the stone?"

Violet nodded. "Don’t you think the idea is feasible?"

For a moment, Alaric just stared at her blankly. Then he burst into long, mocking laughter that even drew the attention of passing Fae.

Not that he cared.

Alaric wiped the tear that escaped the corner of his eye. "I mean, it’s Roman and Griffin we’re talking about here. You left the two brains in the Fae realm and sent the unique...." he paused, choosing his words carefully at the don’t you dare say it look on Violet’s face, "to the human realm. So yes, the idea of the stone going missing is very feasible."

Violet sighed. At least if Alaric believed that too, that meant they were safe. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"I guess we’d just contact them the same way we did Nancy."

"Yeah," Alaric said. "After the competition tomorrow. You know how much planning and magic it took to pinpoint Ezra and Nancy’s location. There’s too much at stake right now to allow that kind of distraction. Roman and Griffin will be fine, little minx."

He reached out and squeezed her hand in reassurance.

Violet smiled, nodding in agreement, before her gaze shifted to Asher, who had been eating quietly, his brows slightly drawn.

"Just thinking about how everything will play out," Asher replied. "There’s a lot happening all at once."

Violet and Alaric shared a look.

Yeah. That was Asher. Always trying to think ahead and worrying over everything.

"Don’t worry, everything will work out," it was Violet’s turn to be encouraging, "I’m sure that—" she was still saying when her ears picked up hurried footsteps coming towards them.

All three of them looked up at the same time as two Fae guards rushed into the dining room, their faces tight with worry.

Violet straightened instantly. Something was wrong.

Alaric lowered his spoon, his expression changing, especially upon recognizing them as the guards placed in front of the space where he and Zuru worked.

Asher perked up, studying the Fae who approached them with dark, gloomy looks.

The guards stopped in front of them but addressed Alaric directly. "We have a little problem, Alpha Alaric. It’s the Queen’s project. It’s gone."

The way the color drained from Alaric’s face was immediate. He shot to his feet so fast the chair behind him crashed to the floor.

"What did you just say?" His voice was a feral growl.

The Fae guard gulped at the dark look in his eyes. By then, Violet was already on her feet, dread hitting her hard, with Asher rising right after her.

"The Queen’s project is—"

Alaric didn’t wait for him to finish. He stormed out.

"Alaric, wait!" Violet cried, rushing after him.

Violet could not catch up with Alaric, who had practically vanished, but by the time she made it to Zuru’s healing wing, Alaric was already there, standing before the stand with a blank expression.

The glass case had not been broken and did not even look tampered with, except there was no butterfly in it.

"How did this happen?" the Queen entered right at that moment.

Oh great. This couldn’t get any worse.

Violet felt for her mate, Alaric, who ran his hand through his hair and licked his lower lip nervously.

"I swear, the butterfly was right there when we left. It had been sealed carefully, and there was no way it could have flown away except—"

"Someone took it," Violet completed.

"Oh my God." She groaned, rubbing her hand down her face as the weight of it hit her.

Of course this would happen now. As if everything wasn’t already falling apart.

Taking away the one thing that could save her mother? That was the cruelest blow yet.

"Baron," Asher hissed. "This had to be him. No one else."

"But Baron wouldn’t even know what the butterfly is unless—" Violet started.

"He must have found out somehow," Seraphira concluded, the light in her eyes dimming slightly.

She forced calm into her voice. "Not that this could have stayed hidden forever. Baron has spies. He must have noticed the changes around me. It wouldn’t take much to piece things together."

"Or someone betrayed us," Asher said suddenly.

Violet stiffened. Not just her, pretty much everyone in the room had the same reaction.

Lila said, "And pray tell, Asher Nightshade, how many amongst us know about the Queen’s illness and our plans?"

"It’s just us," Violet said, her face tight with thought.

"And a few Fae," Asher added. "Like the lion shifter."

"Lord Taryn?" Lila said, clearly offended.

"Lord Taryn would never do that," Queen Seraphira said firmly. "We go a long way back. Trust me, Taryn is an honorable Fae. He would rather die than side with Baron."

"It’s the people we least expect who betray us," Asher said callously.

"You mean people like you, right?" Lila shot back sarcastically, not knowing she had hit the truth.

"Lila," Violet growled a warning. "My mates have done nothing but try to help my mother in every possible way."

"Then we call in the guards who were standing watch when the device went missing. We should start there," Alaric said.

"I’ll handle that," Lila said immediately, her eyes flashing with purpose.

Seraphira exhaled slowly.

"You all understand what this means."

No one spoke.

"The possibility that Baron now knows our plan. We can no longer wait."Her voice hardened. "We make our move now."

She turned to Lila.

"Arrest Baron and Celeste immediately. I want them detained before the competition tomorrow. We cannot allow them to execute whatever plans they have against Violet and me."

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Lila said, stepping out immediately.

Then it was just the Queen left with Violet and her mates. Queen Seraphira turned to Asher. "Alpha Asher, work with my guards and coordinate a search for the device."

Then her gaze fell on Alaric.

"Alpha Alaric...." She paused, then said more gently, "Come, have a walk with me."