Teo steps forward, wrapping his arm around Estela’s back. “I will find Ulla. Vann, I think you need to leave. Take her to the throne room. We will decide what to do from there.”
“All right,” I croak.
I stand, breathing through my mouth to avoid taking in more of the scent of blood and dark magic, and turn to leave.
Chapter 14
VANN
Even without seeing the room, it is burned into my memory. It’s… impossible to believe she could hurt someone like that. That she took this man into her bed—and then tore him apart like some unfeeling predator.
Moving out of the house is a blur. Faol walks at my side, guiding me back to the throne room.
It is quiet. Chairs are positioned from another meeting, and a marble table is at the right foot of the thrones. I approach the table, laying Arlet down.
Gods only know how much time passes as Ra’Salore, Teo, Estela, Liana, and Fira trickle into the room. A few guards have been positioned around the back, and then the doors are closed and an uncomfortable silence hangs over us all.
Then an unexpected person joins the group. Thorne, the Elven Emissary. He doesn’t saunter in like usual, he walks with purpose, a frown on his face.
“What are you doing here?” I demand.
He looks at me and narrows his eyes. “I heard that Lady Arlet is not well.”
“Who the fuck told you anything?”
Teo appears on the other side of the table and looks at me, his face guarded. He shakes his head at me.
“Vann,” he warns.
I suck in a hot breath. Thorne was important to the alliance with the elven rebellion, but that didn’t mean I had to like him.
Thorne holds up his hands. “I meant no disrespect, friends. I was with Ulla when King Teo came to tell her she was needed. I only wanted to offer my help.”
He looks back at Arlet, and I try to move my body to shield his view.
“What is wrong with her?” he asks.
Estela comes to my side. “Lord Thorne, we appreciate your concern. But she isn’t well, and we would appreciate it if you would allow us some privacy for a while longer.”
He hesitates, then bows with a flourish of his hand. “Of course. Whatever you say, My Queen.”
Then he disappears out of the room and the doors are shut tightly.
The silence returns, and I watch Estela stare at her friend in quiet horror. I note that Arlet’s hair is still streaked with drying blood.
“Vann,” Teo says softly. “Please tell everyone what you saw.”
I recount what happened, but my words clipped and mechanical.
When Lady Fira asks for the victim’s name, one of the guards steps forward.
“Lady Ulla informed us that it was one of the new arrivals from the liberated camps. Diego,” he reports. "Unmarried, but he has family in the residential section.”
I grit my teeth, but close my eyes for one beat, speaking his name to the gods in my mind, giving him the same respect I would offer any soldier.
Teo takes a deep breath.
“Lady Arlet is a member of the council, but she killed an innocent person. She will need to be punished.”