The throne room erupted into cacophony as I strode in through the side door and ascended the steps, plunking myself in my seat without any formality. I did not address the simple black uniform I wore, different from my usual “formal” court attire. I did not address the way I sat. I did not address that I sat in one of two thrones arrayed before them.
I did not need to kowtow to their rules if I did not want to.
As Anna had reminded me,Iwas thetyrant. Not them.
“Silence!” I bellowed, alpha power cutting off all noise in the room as it reached the back corners. “I am here before you today with two things to announce.”
Spines sat straighter. It was rare that I called a full assembly of the elites simply toannouncesomething. Usually, they only met to debate laws or enact new ones that worked in their favor. This was different.
“First. A sad piece of news.” I gestured at Dirk, who hauled open the doors at the back. There was a heavy rustle as heads turned to see what was going on.
My brother and my warlord hauled the traitor into the room. She walked on her own, her head held high, showing off the silver band of a slave collar around her neck. Her eyes were focused on me, hatred trying to impale me to my very throne as she was brought forward.
“What is going on here?” Mirko shouted, jumping to his feet. “What is the meaning of this treatment of one of our elites?”
I fixed him with a glare so cold and hostile that Mirko fell quiet. Perhaps he could sense the changing of the winds, or perhaps he was biding his time, hoping I would screw up.
“Bryna Allard, formerly Bryna Dvorak, has been charged with a litany of crimes. The most heinous of which is treason against the state. She is to stand trial two weeks from today. MayI remind the room that the punishment for such an offense is death.”
If the room was loud when I entered, it went apoplectic at this. Dragons shot to their feet, hands raised as they shouted at me and at one another. The loudest supporters came from my uncle Mirko’s camp. Mirko himself, however, was watching me with silent analysis.
I know, you traitorous piece of trash. I know it was you. I just can’t prove it. But I will.
Something flashed in Mirko’s eyes. Did he understand the meaning behind my look? Did he realize I knew damn well his “estrangement” with Bryna had been a fraud, a sham, all to allow her to operate the markets unseen but with his money?
Florian and Dirk ignored the shouting and anger, bringing Bryna to the foot of the dais on which my throne sat. There they forced her to her knees, none too gentle about it either.
Raising a hand to silence the crowd, Mirko stood.
“Alpha,” he said, his voice carrying to every corner of the room. “You must release my mate. She has done nothing wrong.”
I stared at him. Had I misinterpreted his earlier look? Was the man really that stupid?
“Is that so, Mirko?” I asked, leaning forward to stare him down. “Do you wish to tell me, then, how yourestrangedmate knew exactly whoAnna was and had a bounty out on her with the hunters?”
Mirko clenched his jaw, wisely choosing the path of silence instead of incriminating himself.
“Sit down,” I ordered. “I am not done. As I said, I have two things to announce today. The arrest of yourestrangedmate is but the first. I am not alone in accusing her of such things.”
The crowd murmured again. I saw more than one set of eyes linger on the empty seat next to me. Had they figured it out yet?
“As an additional witness of the crimes besides me, I call forth Anna Carradine to stand and testify to the shameful actions of Bryna.”
Fifty-One
Anna
That wasmy cue.
I had listened to Caz through the door. I’d heard his words, but my focus had been on his emotions. He was as composed as anyone I’d seen, never wavering, but behind that mask, behind the tyrant, he was exposed to me. There was no hiding that raw vulnerability, and in it I sensed the truth.
He was worried. Fearful, even.
What we were doing, what we wereaboutto do, was a watershed moment. He was putting it all on the line. For me. Not just himself, his position, his reign, but the entire kingdom.
Everything was balanced on a scale’s edge. One step too far on our part, and it could fall to pieces.
That said, neither of us was willing to back down. The status quo was unacceptable.
