FORTY SIX

LAUREL’s POV

The cell door opens to Ariel’s room and I see her sitting at the edge of her bed with her head bowed and arms hugging her waist.

“Ariel, we need to talk.”

She hugs herself tighter but does not look up.

Helios scowls and steps into the room. Behind us, Ares pokes his head out of his cell door and I motion for him to come and join us. He does but remains standing by the door. He knows not to interrupt when Helios is interrogating someone.

“Is her name cleared?” he whispers to me and I shake my head solemnly.

“Let’s talk about Marcus,” Helios says when he reaches the foot of Ariel’s bed. He has her attention.

“What about Marcus?” she asks, her voice flat and cold.

Helios crosses his arms. “Tell us what happened.”

Ares tugs at my sleeves and I put a finger to my lips, indicating for him to keep quiet. He pouts.

Ariel rubs her stomach and mumbles, "Marcus died."

“You killed him.," Helios does not mince his words.

“No! I’m innocent!”

“We went to your old house back at Stormbreak