The Fragile Threads of Power

Lila storms through the streets of London, furious that Kell is refusing to risk healing. As she walks, she realizes that there is no moon and that tonight could be the Hand’s meeting. She finds the appointed address, and the house is filled with masked revelers. When she shows the guard at the door her coin, he gives her a mask and lets her enter, telling her there will be a toast in the library at 11.

Alucard, Kell, and Rhy descend to the dungeon to speak to Tes. When they arrive at the cell, it is empty, and the guard tells them the queen took Tes with her.

They find Nadiya chained to the table in her workshop and free her. Alucard realizes that she seems unbothered by what happened and correctly guesses that she is using Tes as bait. She agrees and casts a map spell to see where Tes has gone. Rhy is angry and chastises Nadiya for risking Tes’s life. She retorts that it is a necessary risk and that Rhy is foolish for pretending like his life is not worth more than other people’s lives. He is the king, and this is part of the realities of kingship.