A hush rippled through the hall. All attention shifted to her. Phoebe, now seated at the table, offered a subtle nod of encouragement.
Drawing a slow breath, Alena lifted her chin and began the long walk down the aisle between the tables. Her wolves prowled ahead, their eyes locked on Danaos. The new king consort shifted uneasily in his seat.
When she reached the dais, Alena stopped, steadying herself before the queen, the general, and the watchful priest.
“My sister is unwell,” she said. “I ask for permission to remove one of the dampeners. With access to her healing Gift, she may begin to recover her mind.”
The queen’s smile remained gracious, but Danaos’ expression hardened. “Your sister possesses incredible strength. How are we to know she won’t try to escape?”
Alena didn’t waver. “Prince Leukos and I will see to it she doesn’t.”
Leukos, who had maintained a respectful distance beside her—tall, poised, every inch the prince he was raised to be—nodded in agreement.
His silent show of support soothed her nerves.
Danaos scowled. “Your sister is a Rasennan Praefect. She joined the very enemy we’ve fought for decades. Loyalty to blood doesn’t erase betrayal.”
Alena clenched her fists, refusing to be baited. “She is still my sister. And I won’t stand by while her mind is poisoned.”
“We heard the potion the Rasennans use is called Laran’s Tears,” the priest interjected. “They are meant to increase one’s power.” He looked to the queen, who hung on his every word. “The Rasennans call her Laran’s Chosen. Others, Laran’s whore.” His eyes gleamed with calculated malice. “A threat to Achaea and your reign, Your Majesties. Eliminating her now would be prudent.”
Alena’s patience frayed. “She might have slipped into the city, but she hasn’t harmed anyone. Fear of what she might do is not justice.”
Danaos slammed down his cup, wine sloshing over the rim. “She was sent to help assassins find their way to our queen!”
Alena stilled. Her gaze darted to Leukos, and the gravity in his eyes confirmed it. Her chest tightened with dread, the weight of her sister’s choices pressing down on her.
Stars be cursed, what was Katell thinking?
Even so, she couldn’t give up on her. Not yet.
Drawing a ragged breath, she softened her voice. “Please. She’s my sister. Whatever her choices, I beg you—let me heal her, and I’ll make sure she leaves without causing harm to Tiryns. I give you my word.”
A cold smile curved the priest’s lips. “When one seeks mercy from the queen,” he murmured, “they usually do so on their knees.”
Alena faltered, and a thick silence descended on the Great Hall.
On the dais, Charis shifted, her gaze flicking to Danaos, uncertainty clouding her expression. But the general merelyrested a firm hand over hers, silently urging her to hold her ground—to see what the Omega would do.
By ordering her to kneel, the priest was challenging the very authority the gods themselves had bestowed.Remember, the Mother Goddess chose you. Do not let any mortal forget who you are,the Maiden’s words echoed in her mind. And yet, here in Tiryns, they expected her to bow as if she were no more than a petitioner.
Every eye in the hall was on her. The priest likely saw this as a test of wills, but Alena cared little for court games. Proving herself meant nothing compared to Katell’s safety. If kneeling would help her sister, she would spend all day on her knees.
Heart pounding, she stepped forward. The triumphant gleam in the priest’s eyes made her stomach turn.
But before she could kneel, a jolt of ice brushed her arm, stopping her.
“No,” Leukos said, his voice a soft but commanding growl, his hand retreating to his side. “You do not kneel. You do not plead.” His dark eyes burned with fierce protectiveness, a storm of emotion swirling behind them. “You are the Omega—a goddess among men, a legend made flesh. You do not kneel before anyone. Least of all that worm.”
Gasps rippled through the hall, followed by a swell of surprised whispers. The priest sputtered, indignation written all over his face.
A fierce blush rose to Alena’s cheeks. Leukos’ words left her momentarily stunned. “Leukos…” Her pulse quickened. “I have to. They won’t be satisfied until someone is on their knees. I don’t care what he makes me do as long as it helps Kat.”
Leukos let out a sharp exhale, his expression unreadable. “Your sister doesn’t deserve you.”
Without another word, he strode to the dais and, to Alena’s shock, dropped to one knee, bowing his head before Charis.
The room seemed to hold its breath. Alena’s heart seized, disbelief flooding through her.
