Screams blast across the arena.
My voice demands, "Tell me who paid you to kill the queen!"
More screams, wet gurgles, and crackling sobs echo the arena.
Valentina's voice follows, lethal and steady. "Speak, or I'm taking another finger."
The video goes on and on.
Devika turns it off.
"There's more on there. You're missing the best part," I point out.
She shoots me a death glare.
Valentina faces the Omni. "There are two other men on video. They all say the same thing."
Phones begin dinging everywhere. A cascade of chimes echoes through the arena.
Sean lifts his. "That's everyone's inbox. Brax and I hacked into Ulrich and Jytte's private chats. Everything is documented."
"He's lying!" Jytte shrieks.
A roar rises from the audience. "Free our Majesties! Free our Majesties!"
The knights circle Ulrich and Jytte.
Sean moves first, kicking bolts loose on Kirill's guillotine. I reach down, unlatch Fiona's, and yank the heavy wood up. It resists me for half a second before the mechanism snaps open.
Fiona gasps and jerks backward, hands flying to her throat. I grip her shoulder, grounding her. "You're okay. I've got you."
Sean frees Kirill, who immediately yanks Fiona to him, shielding her body with his. His eyes burn with a fury that could level kingdoms. He orders, "Bring the queen her royal robe! Now!"
An Omni scrambles with folded fabric. I step back as Kirill wraps Fiona in her robe with trembling hands. He dons his own and plants himself between his wife and every threat in the arena.
He points at Ulrich and Jytte. They're pale, sweating, and surrounded by knights who now understand exactly where their loyalty belongs. Kirill roars, "The only ritual we complete tonight is the Black Veil."
A collective gasp surges through the crowd.
Metal poles roll out. Nooses swing above flames. A bridal gown and tuxedo appear.
"Get dressed," Kirill commands.
Jytte buckles. Ulrich spits excuses. No one listens.
Zara pins a rose on Ulrich. Valentina shoves a blood-red bouquet into Jytte's trembling hands and orders her to hold it. When the thorns diginto her palms, she screams, and Valentina binds her fingers with wire until blood runs down the stems.
My cock hardens.
That's my Minx.
Sean and I place the nooses around their necks. Ropes get secured under their armpits.
Valentina adds a veil to Jytte's head.
"This is a mistake!" Ulrich howls again.
"Yeah. A deadly one. Raise them into the air," Kirill orders.
