“What?” the General whispered. “No. No, she would never hurt children.” He looked at Juva. “Juva, tell them.”
“I'm a mother,” Juva said. “Mothers can't hurt children.”
“You have proved that statement false, Madam,” I said.
“You . . . Juva, did you do this?” The General's shoulders drooped. “How could you? Children? You drugged children? And that criminal came after our son because of it.”
“I didn't do anything wrong!”
“Enough!” the King shouted. He pointed at Juva. “Put her in a cell.” Then he pointed at Rulli. “Put him in another cell far away from hers. I don't want them talking.”
“Sire, what about my family?” Rulli asked. “Please, they had nothing to do with this. They are innocent. I swear.”
“Release his family,” King Tor'rien said to the talons guarding them.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
“Do not thank me, you miserable piece of shit!” the King roared, silencing the whole building. Maybe the entire block. He stalked over to Rulli and leaned down as the Chelli cringed away. “You tried to murder my lover today. You will pay dearly for that.” He swung to face Juva, and the woman's gray skin went nearly white. “You both will. Do you hear me?” He went to her. “The only reason you are not dead is because Tekhan asked me not to kill you. He is a claw, and he wants justice served. So, for him, I held back my anger and let you live. But once you are tried and found guilty of multiple counts of murder, I will be your executioner.”
“Your Majesty, please. I'm your general. Does that not earn my wife some mercy?”
The Dragon King narrowed his stare at his general. “Consider your question, General Butan. I have already controlled my instincts, all of which tell me to tear out your wife's throat for what she did to those humans and what she tried to do to my consort. She is directly responsible for the abuse and murder of many people, including children, and when her crimes were about to be discovered, she tried to entomb an entire Talon team and my Claw to cover them up. When that was unsuccessful, she fled the city—without you and her children, I might add. So, does she warrant further consideration from me? Does she?!”
The General bowed his head. “At least know that my children and I were not a part of this, Your Majesty. Have some mercy on us.”
“I don't punish people for the sins of their spouses, nor do I hurt children, General. You do not need to ask for mercy.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Butan!” Juva shrieked as she was taken away.
The General turned away from his wife and walked away, shoulders hanging and head bent.
Rulli's wife and daughter hugged him, and he went with his talon escort without protest.
I watched Rulli and Juva get taken away, Rulli's wife clutching their sobbing daughter. Was he a victim of Juva's controlling nature? Perhaps. But Lansho and he chose to follow her commands. She couldn't have sealed the mine without them. It was their magic that brought the rocks down. And it was his magic that entombed my team and me earlier that day. So, I felt no sympathy for the Chelli. Only his family. That would be a hard mantle for them to carry.
And then my body realized that it was over. I had done my part. The last of the murderers involved with the Hallax Mine were in Talon custody. They'd be tried for murder. Multiple counts. And I would be a witness. But mostly, my role was done. And my muscles caught on quicker than my mind, going limp with exhaustion and relief.
“Tekhan?” King Tor'rien steadied me.
I looked up into his stunning sapphire eyes—a match for his dragon scales. “Now, I can breathe.”
He folded an arm around me and led me out to the street. “Come and breathe outside, my Claw. I still want to take you to lunch.”
“Lunch?” I squinted at the sky and then at the crowds still waiting outside the Hall of Talons to learn what had happened.
The Dragon King should have addressed them. He should have taken the time to put his people at ease and explain the events of the day. But he was focused on me, and I was too tired to mind. He left the explanations to the Talon Chief and helped me into the royal carriage.
As soon as we were settled inside, the carriage began to move. No one dared to block the path of the King of Rushao. Only I. I had blocked him over and over. Still, Tor'rien had returned. He had helped me, saved me, and loved me all while I rejected him.
Epiphany hit, and I couldn't hold the words, “I love you.”
“It's good to hear you admit it.” Tor'rien smiled. “I love you too. Come here.” He tucked me in against his chest and folded his head over mine. “I was scared.”
“When?”
“When?” He laughed. “When I arrived at the mine and realized you were trapped inside.”
