Page 91 of Sundered By Fate

And, belatedly:What will they do to us both?

If he could protect Malekith, though, just long enough to learn the truth . . . Maybe even long enough to gather evidence on Valerian and Sylthris and stop his mad plans . . .

Could Aric trust Malekith, even if the Malekith he knew was all but gone?

A tiny voice in the back of Aric’s mind asked: Could he bring Malekith back from whatever brink he’d been pushed toward?

“Please,” Aric said, the words thick in his throat. “I can get the truth from him. We have to try.”

Valerian stared at him so long that Aric’s muscles gave out, and he dropped to one knee, the replica sword—one that had still proven plenty powerful—keeping him upright as he used it for balance. Valerian did not miss the motion; did not miss the sword and the reminder of what it had been capable of Aric’s hands.

And if Aric detected even the slightest flicker of fear behind his eyes, then Aric would cling to that.

He would cling to Valerian’s fear, and his own hopes.

"Very well," Valerian said, his voice cold. "Then it shall be so."