Malrik POV

“This hall was built by our great-grandfathers after the fall of King Evander Moonchild,” Cassian said, voice frayed with exhaustion. “It was meant to be a symbol of hope and peace.”

I watched him, took in the way his shoulders sagged, the faint, tremulous quiver of his hands. The silver was eating at us slow, insidious and the damage showed. We were running out of time.

“And how exactly is that relevant to our situation?” I asked, patience thinning.

Cassian exhaled ...