Maddox clenched his jaw. “They must’ve slipped the vial into your pocket. It’s the only explanation.”
Callum braced one hand on the bars and gave them a little shake, as if testing their strength.
“Trying to break me out of prison, Cal?”
He smiled. One that didn’t reach his brown eyes. “Always a good idea to have a backup plan.”
“By making me an escaped convict?”
“You don’t belong in a dungeon.” He gripped the bars with both hands and pressed forward, his forehead colliding against the iron with a soft thud. “You belong at home with us.”
“I’ll be okay.” I put on my best courageous smile. Might’ve been more convincing if a dumb tear hadn’t chosen that moment to roll down my cheek.
Callum’s hand trembled as he brushed it away with his thumb.
“What happens now?” I asked with a sudden restlessness. Never thought I was claustrophobic, but the tiny cell suddenly seemed much smaller. The bars between me and my men only made that feeling worsen.
“The vial will first be examined to ensure it truly does contain the same poison used on the king,” Briar answered, his hazel eyes tightening. “If confirmed that it does, you’ll be found guilty.”
“Okay. What am I looking at here if that happens? What kind of punishment? Will I spend the rest of my life rotting in this cell?”
“Well. The sentence depends on the severity of the crime.” He adjusted his glasses and took a steadying breath. “In your case, an attempt on the king’s life, I fear there’s only one outcome. Execution.”
Maddox made a strangled sound.
“Aren’t I entitled to a trial?” I asked, desperation building. “If I present my case to the council and tell them I was framed, that someone slipped the poison in my pocket, they’d realize this is just one huge misunderstanding.”
“Little good that would do, I’m afraid,” Briar said. “In many ways, you’ve already had your trial. Prince Cedric accused you in front of a large crowd of witnesses, concocting quite the tale on top of it. The evidence against you is also staggering. The dagger and vial corroborate his story.”
“And the mention of the demon Oreo helping you,” Maddox interjected. “That certainly didn’t help sway anyone to your side.”
A shaky smile touched my lips. “Hey, you remembered his name this time.”
He didn’t return my smile. Nothing but rage showed in his expression. Maybe it was easier embracing anger instead of letting himself worry.
I looked at Briar. “So what you’re saying is I don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting out of this mess. Once they confirm the poison, it’s game over for me.”
His glasses lens misted over, and he turned away to wipe at his eyes.
And then, the thin thread holding Maddox together snapped.
“You shouldn’t be in there!” He shoved against the bars with a frustrated snarl. “It’s not… I need to…” He punched one hard enough to send the others rattling.
Ban stepped forward, then hesitated and returned to his spot against the wall. He seemed to realize Maddox was just upset, not actually trying to break me out.
“Stop that.” I reached through the bars and grabbed Maddox’s hand. The skin had been torn open. “Now look what you’ve done. Bloodied your knuckles.”
His gaze locked onto mine, anger and grief lacing through his deep blue eyes.
“You reckless man.” Briar grabbed Maddox’s hand and placed his palm over his bloody knuckles. A light glow appeared. He couldn’t heal major injuries that way, but cuts, scrapes, and bumps were no problem for him. “What will I do with you?”
Maddox watched him work, saying nothing. His other hand was squeezed into a tight fist.
I was the one locked in a cell, but I worried more for them.
My men’s fate was tied to mine. In the event I fell victim to one of my possible doom endings, Rowan embraced his darker nature and used his shadow magic to hurt people, crushing them like dust. Lake became what everyone feared demi-wolves to be, violent and blood hungry. Maddox turned his back on his knights and lost himself to rage. And Briar, unable to cope with losing me, our men, and the home we’d all built together, did the unthinkable.
That warning had come before Callum joined our family, but I could only guess his fate wasn’t much happier.
