Why is he so reluctant in laying out what he knows?
His jaw tightens.
“If I’m right, we will be protecting a guilty king.”
I walk… stunned silent.
Realization unveils itself—there is no right choice here.
There never was.
My mind whirls.
We’ve made our decision.
No,Imade our decision. I pressed to save Rowen on account of Tanila.
“Would you have chosen differently?”I ask, lifting my chin andsquaring my shoulders.
He meets my stare before answering.
“No,”Ryc says firmly and the cool wash of relief sears through my blood.“But it doesn’t make the decision any easier to bear.”
No, it doesn’t.
Preserve Rowen, save Tanila. Vis will continue as it has. We may shatter the integrity of the council’s oath, but we’ll gain a powerful ally.
Ahead, the throne room doors open, peeled back by guards clad in polished bronze. They offer the slightest nod of acknowledgment as we pass, closing the doors in silence behind us—trapping me in a room with a council of fae capable of selling their souls for the promise of power.
Ryc lifts my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to the center of my palm.
“Be ready, little love,” Ryc says, his voice soft. “This is not the first trial we’ll face together.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
There are nobright eyes, no smiles, no warm welcomes here.
I would be foolish to expect them.
Heads turn, a few at a time, to level cold, demanding stares in my direction. In the same instant, hands fly to lips, shrouding whispers.
It’s the hells’ court all over again.
A strangely familiar thing in the realm of the living.
And thanks to Lilith’s lesson, I’m not walking inentirelyblind and naive as I did in the hells centuries ago. Eventually, rooms much like this became known and familiar during my time in Netharis’ court—from the games, to the stares, to the whispers—none of it is new.
In fact, it makes what we have to do todayeasier.
I’ve already a good mind of what to expect.
Granted, the outcome is likely to be far less hellish—at least for me. I can’t say the same for Rowen and Tanila. With any luck, and the learned skill of wading through dangerous waters like these, perhaps I can help influence this meeting’s end.
Never thought I’d find myselfsavingsouls overdamningthem.
Despite the stares turning in different directions, I know better than to believe they’re not paying attention. No, my return has certainly earned their notice.
The bond between Ryc and me takes on a muted feel—he’s raised his mental ward. A mixture of envy and mourning curl themselves round my heart, a notion I’m forced to ignore.
