INICIAR SESIÓNDay 2VioletDay two felt no different, but I had a gut feeling that it would be worse.Although Kylan had managed to save the night yesterday, this was not how I expected my morning to go. Still, I sat in the same courtroom, in the same seat, with Kylan beside me again. It was like nothing had moved forward, and we were stuck in the same moment.My fingers rested in my lap as I glanced around the crowd below me. It was packed again. The council had returned, the nobles, the bloodroses, including Fergus, and mistresses, though some had skipped day two, perhaps fearing they would meet Lady Mona’s fate as well.There were newer faces as well that I hadn’t seen before, all gathered like this was some kind of spectacle they couldn’t afford to miss.I had expected to be summoned again, and the king did not disappoint. I was pretty certain today was not yet my day, but of course, he needed me here to sit and watch.My eyes lifted to the king. He stood in front of the bench, his arms crossed
VioletDay one was over.We found ourselves back in our room, but the mood was down and had been like that for a while now. I still couldn’t believe what had just happened. The accusations the king made against the queen, True, who was telling lies, and Jack, who was hurt by his mate’s actions.And as much as I didn’t care for the woman, he even went as far as dragging Lady Mona to the dungeons.The dungeons…Kylan had told me what he had seen, how Kaelis hadn’t left Nate’s side until he asked her to, and I wished he hadn’t told me because now I couldn’t unsee it. Couldn’t stop imagining it.“I can’t believe he’s doing all of this for a box.”Kylan chuckled. “I can.”My hand curled into a fist. It was a lie. I actually could believe it. He had made it very clear what type of man he was. I just didn’t want to accept it.I didn’t want to accept that this was his game and that he had forced me to play it.“I knew the dungeons were harsh, and that they wouldn’t be in the best condition, b
Day 1VioletTrue’s eyes darted from side to side, looking anywhere but Jack. Her chest rose and fell as she started moving forward, her teeth almost chattering.Anyone could see she didn’t want to be here. So why was she here?Her steps were slow.“I have spared the rest of your family,” he said calmly. “They have been placed under house arrest until further notice.”Jack’s body stiffened, his eyes fixed only on True as she passed. “True…” he said softly. “What are you doing?”He tried to move toward her, but the guards held him back instantly, their grip tightening as he fought against it. True didn’t stop, didn’t turn, but kept walking.Cecilia tried to calm him, attempting to place her hand on his shoulder, but before she could reach him, Jack had already shrugged her off.“True!”The worst part of it all was the satisfaction on the king’s face. No one knew exactly what he was doing, but that didn’t stop him. True reached the stand and sat down, her hands resting in her lap.“Welc
Day 1VioletWitch?The entire atmosphere shifted the moment that word left his mouth. While it was clear the crowd had first come here for entertainment and curiosity, the energy turned into something else.It couldn’t be true.Jack had turned his head toward Cecilia, his brows drawn, though he didn’t look shocked. He seemed more interested in where this was going, what she was about to do, and whether she had a plan. Or perhaps about the alleged adultery.Who knew.I leaned closer to Kylan.“This has to be fake,” I whispered. “He’s just saying anything without concrete proof.”Kylan released a small puff, his gaze still fixed ahead. “The adultery surprised me more,” he muttered.That wasn’t what I expected him to say.“What do you mean?”He glanced at me briefly. “Nothing. You’re right,” he said. “He doesn’t have any proof and is just building up as much drama as he can until the last day of trial. He won’t touch her.”“How do you plead?”“Not guilty!” Cecilia called out, her voice
VioletThere were guards in every corner. They stood between the rows, near the entrances, behind the council seats, and there were way too many of them for this to be anything close to normal.I was seated at the side of the room, under strict surveillance. Many council members had already entered, but it wasn’t just them.There were nobles, elders. The mistresses had come as well, laughing and joking around like this was some sort of feast rather than what it actually was.My fingers curled against the fabric of my dress as I searched the room again. I was starting to get anxious now, and Kylan still hadn’t returned.And the longer he stayed gone, the more that feeling doubled.Even the Bloodrose had come. Fergus, Sonya, all of them. They were supposed to leave today and shouldn’t have been here at all, and yet they stood among the others, pulled into this mess.As if it couldn’t get any worse, I had already seen Fergus nearly lose his patience with one of the guards when they tried
KylanWhat am I doing here?“No,” I corrected. “What are you doing here?”Kaelis scrunched her nose, caught off guard.“I—”Her words got stuck, her expression flustered, like she hadn’t expected to be questioned. Suddenly, her eyes widened, and a gasp escaped her. Her head snapped toward Nate.She squeezed his hand, as if checking something, then exhaled deeply. “He’s finally sleeping,” she said, her lips curling into a soft smile.Sleep or asleep?I glanced at Nate again.No wonder he was so still.He was pretending, for her sake. I was sure we had the same thoughts. He also didn’t want her here.“You shouldn’t be here.”Kaelis looked back at me, an offended pout forming on her lips. “I’m his mate,” she declared, her voice firm despite how tired she looked. “He needs me. I’m staying here with him.”She didn’t waver. Same as when we visited the flower garden, there was something in her eyes that I hadn’t seen before. A determination.“I know Nate didn’t kill Chrystal,” she continued.
VioletNate sighed as if it wasn’t a big deal. But I knew it was…“My parents have been searching for her.”“Oh no!” Kaelis gasped dramatically. Even through her tone, I could hear the fake concern. She didn’t care about Chrystal and had made her opinion on her very clear the first time I met her.
VioletBy the time we came back from the dress fitting, it was already afternoon. Even though we were stuck again inside that palace, I was happy to be back.I didn’t think I could survive another hour with the king, who had clearly only tagged along to keep a close eye on me. His stares, his words
KylanI stood in front of the Wyrnsbane estate, staring right at the white stone walls. It was one of the nicest estates in Lyperia, close to the palace, and had always seemed more welcoming than that cage I called home.The gates were always open, no guards in sight, but strangely enough, this tim
VioletI sat in bed and rubbed the bronze box in my hands, letting my thumb brush over the carved symbols, but nothing happened. A frustrated breath escaped my lips as I looked at the empty place on my finger where my ring used to be.Three days…It had already been three days since Kayden killed C







