Elias, Konrad, and Gerard entered the bedroom. Two Draconian guards stood just inside the door. The queen consort’s wrists had been shackled, and Elias immediately recognised them as the ones that would stop her from being able to shift.
The queen consort sat on the bed, hunched over. Shelifted her head as they entered the room. Tears streamed from red and swollen eyes. They fixed on Elias immediately.
“You will make sure everyone knows, won’t you?” she pleaded. “You’ll tell them my children had nothing to do with it. I told you where the attack was happening. I did what you said!” Her voice broke as she sobbed, body heaving.
Elias’s chest tightened. She really was such a pitiful and pathetic sight. It was hard not to feel a little sorry for her, even after everything she had done.
Elias knelt in front of her. “We will, Queen Consort. We will tell everyone the truth, that your children had nothing to do with the scheme. They will not be harmed.” He placed his hand on her knee.
She sagged and gripped it. “Thank you. Thank you.”
“But you must tell us everything now. Everything you know,” Elias said softly. He did not think he needed to press her as hard as he had before. They had time, and he knew how to work her.
“I …” She glanced between the three of them before her eyes finally settled on Elias. She leaned in close. “There are things I cannot tell,” she whispered. “I just cannot!”
Elias’s eyes bored into her teary ones. “You will have to. For your children’s sake. We will tell the truth. But everyone will have questions about what happened. To properly clear their names, we need to know everything. Otherwise, your children’s names might be forever tainted. You don’t want that, do you?”
To be honest, Elias was not sure how they could completely avoid that. Their mother’s behaviour would stain them, no matter what happened now. But still, he would do all in his power to clear their names, if the queen consort cooperated.
“I vow to you that I will strive to ensure the truth is known by all about your children,” Elias pledged. “But you have to tell us everything. The entire truth.”
She stared at him, breathing heavily. She swallowed, clearly still unsure.
“If you tell us everything,” Gerard said, “I will ensure that your children are given proper positions in the kingdom. They will no longer be overlooked. You have my word.”
The queen consort let out a breath. “Really?” she asked, voice hopeful. “You will make sure they are important? That they are seen.” She looked to Konrad.
Konrad nodded. “You have my word as well.”
She smiled through her tears. “Then I will tell you all I know.”
Chapter
Seventy-One
Not missing a beat, Elias asked, “Who were the robed and masked figures? There was one of them here at the upper White Monastery. They were there when I was captured, and they accompanied me to the tower. Do you know who that was?”
But despite her declaration to tell everything, she hesitated. “I vowed that I would not say.” Queen Consort Adelina looked between them. Then she lifted her gaze and stared at the closed door. “But for my children’s sake, I will tell you.”
Elias held his breath as he waited for her to speak.
She opened her mouth. Then snapped it shut.
Konrad stepped forward. “You must tell us! Now!”
Once again, the queen consort opened her mouth. A muscle in her cheek twitched. “They—” She sucked in a harsh, gasping breath. Her lips moved. Her hand clutching at Elias’s went rigid. Then she tore her hand back.
“What—” Elias broke off.
Her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Elias’s mouth fell open. He reached out a hand towards the queen consortbut didn’t know what to do to help. Gerard grabbed Elias, tugging him back and to his feet as she suddenly fell onto her side on the bed. She flailed, limbs spasming and kicking out.
“Fucking flames! What is wrong with her?” Konrad asked.
“Call for a healer!” Elias shouted. But he did not take his gaze from the queen consort writhing before them.
The door flung open. Footsteps exited. Hopefully it was the guards running to get a healer. But others ran in, coming up behind him. Still, Elias did not look away from the sight of the queen consort.
“Dragon gods! What the fuck is happening to her?” Luther shouted.
