Someone who would potentially use the knowledge against Netharis.
Someone who hasvisitedRowen in the past.
“I thought he might be serving as your messenger, as he did for your father.”Rowen’s words from a week ago echo in my head.
Ganus has named the wrong demon.
Vaelyncoercing Ryc into a marriage via Rowenwouldprompt Ryc to hunt harder for his mate. Fate aside, it explains Ryc’s desperation to keep me beside him, away from Netharis. And me, the blinded fool I am, couldn’t see past my hatred for my father. I couldn’t see the strings Vaelyn’s been tugging at for centuries.
The longer I stand in the light of the living realm, the darker and deeper Vaelyn’s deceptions become. Netharis may have been cold and calculating, but he was constant, predictable.
Vaelyn is proving to be anything but.
The sudden silence of the room strikes louder than the shouting.Lifting my gaze, order has returned to the room. I dare to glance at Fenryn then Ryc, finding their attention turned to Rowen.
“Are there any other instances from the last century you’d like clarified?” Rowen asks in a tone much calmer than I would be inclined to use.
The question is followed by silence.
Is that it?
Has Rowen truly done nothing else worthy of scrutiny over the last hundred years?
“I’d like to reiterate to the council repercussions should be maintained for those willing to break their oath,” Ganus says. “Rowen broke his oath the moment he signed his contract with a demon.”
I pause. Bewildered.
Surely they haven’t forgotten who they’re forcing upon the High Throne.
“The proposal to remove both Rowen and Tanila from Vis remains,” Eloric adds. “Regardless of our most recent findings.”
I shift in my seat, leaning closer to Ryc. “Is it ill-advised to argue this?” I ask as he leans in.
“I thought you might want to,” he says with a curling smirk. “Speak freely, little love. I’m behind you.”
With a small nod, I straighten myself and find Eloric’s yellow eyes once again. “You seek to punish Rowen and Tanila—to make them an example. What happens when other Sovereign Kings sign with a demon?”
“They’ll go through the same process,” Eloric answers with a dismissing tone. “They’ll be found guilty and they’ll be removed. No one is exempt.”
“Even when a demon ascends your High Throne and you’re made to swear your oath to her?” I ask, holding his stare.
Eloric remains silent.
“There is a distinct difference between a sworn oath to protect our people and signing a demonic contract,” Ganus replies.
For a split second, my eyes venture right, meeting the dark blue eyes of the Sovereign Queen beside him. Sophira, Ryc had said. Ganus sits on the far end of the row, on her left.
“You’re right,” I counter, pitching forward in my seat to betterview Rowen. “A contract outlines expectations and boundaries clearly. There’s no room left for interpretation. Is there, Rowen?”
Rowen chuckles. “There is not.”
“Are you implying you’re going to require the council to sign contracts once you ascend?” Eloric asks with a bitter scoff.
“Perhaps I should,” I reply. “It would prevent situations such as this one. I can draft terms involving immediate death to those who do make conscious decisions to endanger their people.”
Call me a tyrant.
Strengthen the argument against my ascension for me.
