“That will do, Alaric,” Tobias said firmly. “The past is done. This Council voted to rescind their condemnation. They are pardoned. Sebastian and Kara stand under the Arcanth’s blessing, and they will be treated with respect.”
“Idid not vote for that,” Alaric spat venomously. He stared with open contempt at Kara and Sebastian’s joined hands – the sight of it apparently more than he could bear. “I will not stand in the presence of my daughter’s greatest mistake.”
Mistake?
“I urge you to reconsider your words, Alaric,” Evelyn said. “Vallenna’s survival is more important than your personal feelings.”
Her father turned purple with rage, and as he stumbled for words, Kara seized her opportunity.
“He is no mistake, Father.” Kara’s voice shook with anger. “He is the bravest man I know. The most honourable. He sacrificed everything for this realm–”
Her father looked at her incredulously. “Honourable? You call what he’s done honourable, Karalynna?” His eyes went cold. “If it wasn’t for him, you wouldn’t have turned your back on your family, killed a man at the Fire temple. And now you’re Soulbonded to this – this–” His gaze settled on Sebastian. “Butcher.”
Sebastian’s magic flared hot beside her. “Father,” Kara cried, outraged. “Stop this–”
“You are no daughter of mine, Karalynna,” Alaric snarled. “Better you be dead than what’s become of you. At least then Alys could inherit a House untainted by your violence and chaos–”
Galen looked aghast. “Really, Alaric, you go too far–”
But before he could speak further, Alaric shoved back from the table, acting as if he hadn’t heard a single word of Galen’s protest. “I cannot be here,” he snarled. “Not with them.”
Alaric glared at her as he stormed past, and for half a second Kara felt like her old self. Standing scared under her father’s gaze, awaiting his judgement. She moved closer into Sebastian. An instinct and a statement.
I am his.
Sebastian didn’t move. Just stared down at her father. His expression was cold but Kara could feel the red-hot rage burning underneath. Alaric met Sebastian’s eyes and faltered – only for a moment. He turned and marched out of the tent, its flap billowing in his wake. Nobody moved to stop him. Tobias watched him go with a look of such cold fury that Kara almost flinched. No love was lost between the two lords. There never had been. The silence after was brutal. Her father’s words were poison –better you be dead. Sebastian tried to reach her through their bond, sending love, reassurance, even righteous anger but her own emotions drowned everything else out. Rage. Hurt.
And underneath it all? Shame.
Shame that her father, after everything, could still make her feel small. Still held that power over her.
No. I won’t let him.
She lifted her chin.
Alaric Hale doesn’t get that. Not anymore.
Elias let out a slow breath. “That was... unnecessary,” he said, looking at Kara. “You have my apologies for my fellow Councilman, Lady Hale. Anger gets us nowhere.” He looked imploringly at the rest of the Council. “Let us move on.”
Simone Navyr rose from her chair, clad in sea-blue oilskins. She appeared to be completely uninterested in what had just happened. Her gaze was pinned on Sebastian.
“I do not forgive what happened in Saltmoor,” she said, her tone measured. “And I will not forget it.” Then, she said softer, “But I now understand your reasons. And I find myself... grateful that you both came.”
Sebastian’s hands curled into fists at his sides but he didn’t say a word. Only gave a single sharp nod. It seemed to be all he could manage without losing control completely.
Evelyn leaned forward, expression sharp with interest. “Lord Thorne tells me you both hold the power of all eight houses? Of Vallenna itself?”
“Yes. It happened when we united the Shards,” Kara told her.
“Can you show me?” Evelyn asked.
Seriously? Here? Now?
But Kara drew in a breath and slowly raised her palms. Light answered. Threads of each colour in turn; crimson, violet, emerald, sapphire – the spectrum of all eight houses. The magic shimmered across her skin, spilling out into the room, surrounding the Council members, throwing wild shadows across the canvas walls. A low hum of the power that now ran through her veins filled the room. Gasps broke the silence. Evelyn’s hand flew to her mouth, Elias watched wide-eyed. Merrick paled and stumbled back a step, his sons lowering their cups. Galen bowed his head low. Simone murmured, “By the Four, it’s true.” Tobias didn’t move, but watched in quiet admiration.
But behind the awe, she felt something else.
They were scared of her.
