The antidote tasted like lies.
Kaelan's throat convulsed as the last of the violet liquid disappeared behind his teeth. His fingers—still slick with blood from the gut wound—twitched against the stone floor. One breath. Two. Then his eyes rolled back.
The Queen of Thorns clapped her hands. "Excellent! Now we can begin."
Across the cavern, Rook spat out a broken tooth. "Begin what, exactly?"
The queen ignored her, gesturing to her guards. They hauled Kaelan upright, his boots dragging twin streaks through his own blood. His head lolled forward, dark hair obscuring his face.
Seraphine's fingers found the dagger hidden in her sleeve. "What did you do to him?"
"Nothing permanent." The queen's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Unless you consider free will permanent."
A guard struck Kaelan across the back of the knees. He collapsed—only to catch himself at the last second, his palms slapping against stone. His head snapped up.
His eyes were wrong.
The rich brown had faded to the color of tarnished copper, the pupils blown wide. His breathing came too even. Too... mechanical.
The queen stroked his hair like one might pet a favored hound. "The Thorn Crown's first success. No more messy rebellions. No more inconvenient loyalties." Her nails scraped his scalp. "Just perfect obedience."
Kaelan didn't flinch.
Seraphine's stomach turned to ice.
The queen sighed. "Don't look so horrified, girl. You'll wear one too when we're done with you." She nodded to the guards. "Take the Dain boy to the throne room. Let's see how well he kneels."
As they dragged Kaelan away, his blank eyes locked on Seraphine for one endless moment.
Then he blinked.
Once. Slowly.
And the corner of his mouth twitched.