Ballanor took three big strides across the floor and slapped Keely hard across the face, whipping her head back with brutal force. “Shut up!” he roared at the small woman, his face twisting in rage as she sank back to the floor, her hands pressed against her cheek.
“And you,” he waved at Alanna, “I’ll deal with you later.” He turned to her guards. “Take her back to her room.”
“No, I—”
He didn’t let her finish, merely waved an irritated hand at the guards, who stepped up to the queen and jostled her roughly out the door and away.
The king clasped his hands behind his back and cast his eyes over the crowd, his lips tight with rage. Eyes glittering.
Slowly he seemed to relax. To accept that he could not execute the queen.
Eventually he waved toward Val. “You all stand as witnesses. Captain Lanval and his lover, Keely, have confessed to treason. Now you’ll all see how we deal with traitors.”
Ballanor gestured for Grendel to step up next to him and announced with a soft menace, “Traitors die. And their loved ones are purged from the earth. Lovers. Fathers… even sisters. Let this be a lesson to you all.”
Nim felt her heart racing even harder as terror flooded through her. He couldn’t possibly have recognized her hidden away in the crowds. Could he?
Ballanor nodded at Grendel, who smirked back and then waved toward the door leading to the courtyard.
A Blue Guard, resplendent in a brand-new palace uniform of dark blue tunic with its shining silver boars locked in embroidered battle, stepped through the door. His boots clicked on the marble as he made his way down the hall.
She didn’t recognize him at first, it was so unexpected. But one second later, her horrified brain caught up to what she was seeing. Who she was seeing.
Tor.
Nim’s heart stuttered and then sank, her gut clenching around acid as her mind galloped wildly through all the possible reasons he might be there, dressed in the Blue.
She considered running. But where? All the doors were blocked by soldiers. There was nowhere to hide. If she moved, she would be seen. Gods. Could she fly? A glance up at the roof promised fiery death in the chandeliers.
And then it was too late. He had stopped in front of her, staring right at her, his heavy hand falling to grip her shoulder.
He turned his head and smiled coldly back at Ballanor and Grendel. “This is Lanval’s sister. Nim.”
His face was blank, jaw clenched, dark eyes merciless.
Nothing remaining of the friendship that she had thought they were growing. Just cold-blooded betrayal. And then he made it infinitely worse. He gave Tristan a rough clap on his back and smiled ruthlessly. “You did it, brother.”
“What? I don’t….” Nim’s whole stomach was in her throat. She couldn’t get the words out. Couldn’t understand.
Suddenly there were guards roughly pulling her away, hands digging painfully into her skin. A flurry of excited whispers rippled all around her as they marched her into the center of the room beside Keely.
Everything was hazy. Except one thing. Grendel walking over to Tristan and handing him a brand-new Royal Palace Guard blue tunic.
“Thank you, Captain.” Grendel gave Tristan a small nod. “I’ll be honest, I didn’t think you’d get her here, but I keep my promises. Your squad is back in the Blues as agreed. Space is being made for them in the barracks as we speak.”
What? The agreement for her capture had been to reinstate the Hawks? She was going to be sick.
Nim reached out a hand toward Tristan. She needed him. Needed him to choose her over the Blue tunic he was being offered.
Every visible inch of his skin was gleaming with green and pewter, scales covering his hands, the whole of his face, even to his cheekbones and across his forehead.
She couldn’t get her throat clear, but she tried to call him anyway, his name just a dry whisper in her parched mouth. “Tristan!”
His hand gripped the tunic like a lifeline, but he didn’t move.
The soldiers pulling her away grabbed her arms, and she fought against them, threw her weight wildly as she tried to escape. But their rigid grip didn’t break.
“Please! Tristan!” She hated that everyone could hear her despair. But he still didn’t reply.
