"Let me GO—" Lyra thrashed, but she wasn’t going anywhere."I hate you!"She let out a stream of profanity as she was dragged away.
Jin watched for a moment, and then looked at his mother.She was shaken but rapidly regaining her composure, her husband hovering protectively.“Mother, I’m glad you’re alright.In the future, please leave the confronting of criminals to the professionals.”
She made a face.“Yes, dear.”
He scanned Wren, still tense.“You’re alright?”
She nodded.“I’m good.I’m just glad that’s over.”She glanced at where Lyra had disappeared.“What’s going to happen to her?”
“Justice,” Jin said grimly.“And it’s about time.”
***
THE EVIDENCE WAS OVERWHELMING.
Tool marks on the shield pillars that matched implements found in Lyra's apartment.Testimony from the merchant who'd sold her the illegal makeup.Shipping records showing regular purchases, and witnesses to her increasingly erratic behavior.Also, she had the makeup on her when she was arrested.
And Zhao Lin's detailed accounting of every poor choice, every squandered opportunity, every moment Lyra could have chosen differently.
The council deliberated for less than an hour.They sentenced her to exile.Immediate and permanent.What no one said was that with monsters around, exile was sometimes fatal.
Lyra was given one day to gather her belongings and leave the territory.
Wren watched from the gallery as the sentence was announced.Felt no triumph, but she was relieved to have this over.Lyra had destroyed herself; Wren had just been the catalyst.
Afterward, Zhao Lin approached her in the hallway.Unfortunately, she mistook Wren’s somber look for sadness."You're too kind," she said."Feeling sorry for someone who tried to destroy you."
"Well," Wren began to correct her.
"She made her choices, and they led here."Lin's expression was fierce."She threatened my family, and you're my family now.I won't apologize for protecting what's mine."
The fierceness in her voice, the absolute certainty, made Wren's throat tight."Thank you," she whispered."For everything."
"Thank me by making my son happy and giving me grandchildren eventually."Lin's mouth quirked slightly."Preferably sooner rather than later.I'm not getting any younger."
Despite everything, Wren laughed.
***
LYRA LEFT AT DAWN WITHa single wagon of belongings.
Wren didn't go to watch.Neither did Jin, but they heard about it from others.
She'd looked terrible, people said.The makeup had worn off completely, and she'd aged years overnight.Hollow-eyed, shaking, barely holding herself together.She'd left without saying goodbye to anyone.
And just like that, the threat was gone.
That evening, Wren stood on her elevated platform watching the sunset.Jin came to find her, wrapped his arms around her from behind."It's over," he said quietly.
"Is it?"She leaned back against him."I keep thinking she'll come back.Try something else."
"She won't.Exile is permanent.And without resources or connections, she has no power."He rested his chin on her head."You're safe."
Safe.She'd built an elevated fortress, set firm boundaries, earned the protection of a town matriarch, and won the heart of the Marshall.She really was safe."What happens now?"she asked.
"Now?"Jin turned her to face him."Now we get married and make my mother stop asking about grandchildren."
She grinned."Is that an official proposal?"
