“Tethys has been adulterous throughout our union. She has violated the marital vows, and as a result has given birth to a bastard,” he said, keeping his tone smooth. Procyon glared at Tethys, a vicious rage flashing in his sharp irises. She swallowed the bile rising in her throat. Altair’s ward would protect her. She had the force of their two older siblings behind her. He couldn’t hurt her. Not physically, at least.
“Tethys, dearest, tell them,” Procyon hissed.
The goddess’s breath caught in her throat. She’d expected her brother to waiver under Obscuros’s vicious bark, just as he had every time before, but the rage coursing through the autumn king thickened the air with a current so electric, its hum seeped through even Altair’s strongest protection.
“Did you truly believe the babe to be of full immortal descent, Father?” Procyon asked, jutting an index finger in her direction. Obscuros’s obsidian eyes flicked to Tethys and the sleeping infant in her arms.
“Tethys?” he asked. She shifted beneath the weight of his scrutiny. “Tell us the truth”
Phosphora’s cloudy eyes blinked, and for a moment sparkled a deep, glittering turquoise. She shook her head, panic woven through each strand of curly white hair, then faded away.
Tethys opened her mouth to speak, but only silence crept from her throat.
“Father, please. Enough of this,” Polaris cried, her midnight skirts pooling around her as she took a step forward. Obscuros raised his palm, silencing her protests before they could echo through the court.
“I have prepared testimonials. If you’ll allow me,” Procyon said, his lips curling into a cruel smile. Obscuros arched a brow. Somewhere behind Tethys, Crucis growled deep in his throat.
“Fine,” Obscuros replied, the impatient tap of his fingers filling the all too silent chamber.
“Bring in the testimonials!” Drakon squeaked. The door opened once more. A face appeared from the shadowy corridor. One Tethys hadn’t seen in months. One she’d nearly erased from her memory.
Jaide approached the dais, her body trembling in the presence of every immortal being in the realms. Tethys’s tongue soured. Her lady-in-waiting, her closest confidante, now stood on the opposing side of the courtroom. By the expression carved across Obscuros’s bleach white face, she knew Procyon had already won.
“Explain mortal. Tell us everything you know,” theprimordial commanded.
Procyon leaned against a marble column and crossed his arms, the smirk of a confident celebration stretched over his full lips.
“I…I don’t know where you’d like me to start,” Jaide replied, her quivering voice meeker than a child. “There were multiple instances of adultery.”
Tethys’s blood turned to ice as Jaide recounted every secret whisper. Every dark admittance she shared with Jaide now flooded into the courtroom. The mortal audience muttered words of disgust, tossing their queen shameful glances.
“She requested I take her to a pleasure house. There she offered me alcohol, and when I requested to return to the manor, she suggested we get another round and insinuated that we would need the courage for what was to come later that night.”
“That isn’t true!” Tethys cried, horror flooding her vision. “Jaide please, tell them the truth.”
Jaide didn’t acknowledge the goddess’s outcry. Instead, she continued.
“She began her relationship with Lieutenant Araes shortly after. I tried calling on the queen in the weeks to follow. However, her staff said she was indisposed. What I came to find out, however, was that she and the lieutenant had left the city together.”
“They weren’t unattended,” Polaris growled, stepping beside Tethys. “Tethys traveled to Ursae to visit me during Festival. She needed time away from Venia.”
“And she stayed with you for the entirety of your journey?” Obscuros asked, his voice softening slightly as Polaris approached.
“Well no, but—”
“After the goddess returned, she admitted her adultery with Lieutenant Araes to me directly. Claiming it was just a one time occurrence,” Jaide cut in, her voice monotoneand dry. “I didn’t believe that to be true, especially in their company. It was clear the affair was much deeper than a single incident.”
Tethys’s blood boiled through her veins, but she took a breath. Losing control is what Procyon wanted. She wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. Not while he stood there, staring with a smug smile curled across his face. Tethys pulled Aryx tighter into her chest, feeling his slumbering breath against her heart.
“Thank you, mortal. You may take a seat,” Obscuros said. He tapped an impatient finger on the armrest of his throne as Jaide scurried to an empty chair in the audience. Tethys made to catch her eyes as she passed, but the lady-in-waiting simply fixed her gaze on the cold white tile beneath her feet.
“Father, please. If you just let me explain. There’s so much left unsaid,” Tethys begged, risking a step closer to the dais. Obscuros eyed her with blazing, depthless eyes.
“Your one responsibility in this world, daughter, was to be the queen your people needed. You’ve failed. The treaties are no longer valid with the gross violation of your union. Let us pray the fighting comes to an end without our aid,” Obscuros snipped. Before he could rise from his throne, Phosphora laced her fingers through his, ripping his burning gaze from their youngest daughter.
“Dearest, when will he arrive?” Phosphora asked, her words laced with ethereal grace.
“Who, my light?” Obscuros turned to her. Tethys gathered her courage through gritted teeth. She wouldn’t let Procyon’s abuse go without punishment. Not this time.Never again.
