جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 110

"I'm going back as formal ambassador," Lysandra corrected. "House Starwhisper has been absent from Court politics for centuries. It's time to remind them of our presence."She moved to the table and placed her hand on the map, right over Cassian's compound."Cassian acted without Council authorization," Lysandra said firmly. "He hired an assassin. He created an ancient poison. He violated the sacred law that no Fae can make war on another without Council consent.""Can you prove that?" Marcus asked practically."I can present evidence," Lysandra replied. "The assassin's testimony before death identified Cassian as the one who hired them. The poison itself is traceable to Cassian's personal magical signature, I can demonstrate that in front of the Council. And I have witnesses...all of you, who can testify to the attempted assassination.""So what are you proposing?" Alaric asked."A formal trial," Lysandra said. "Before the Grand Council of the Fae Court. Present the evidence. Demand

She paused."But I'm not going to fight you," Lysandra continued. "Because that's not why I came here. I came to ask you a question, and I want you to answer it truthfully."Cassian's expression was wary."Why are you so afraid of her?" Lysandra asked. "That's what this is really about, isn't it? Fear. You're terrified of what she represents. You're terrified that she might be stronger than you. You're terrified that she might prove that Auriel was right.""I'm not afraid of anything," Cassian said, but there was a tremor in his voice."Yes, you are," Lysandra said. "You're afraid that if Elara survives, if she thrives, if she becomes exactly what her mother believed she could become...then everyone will know that Auriel made the right choice. That she was right to leave. That she was right to love a wolf. That she was right to believe in something bigger than power and politics."She stepped back slightly."And you can't live with that," Lysandra continued. "Because if Auriel was rig

"No," Elara said. "Because she was right. Because the oath she swore to my mother is real and binding and more important than politics. Because love....actual, genuine, fierce love, is more powerful than anything else in the world."She sat down carefully, processing everything."I want to be there for the trial," Elara said. "I want to watch Cassian answer for what he did. I want to see him face consequences.""That might not be wise," Caspian said carefully. "Being in the Fae Court, surrounded by enemies...""I won't be surrounded by enemies," Elara interrupted. "I'll be surrounded by Lysandra. And by House Starwhisper. And by the Council members who've already decided that I'm not a threat."She looked at her mates."I want to see my uncle answer for trying to kill me," Elara said. "I want to hear his justifications. I want to watch him realize that his fear didn't work. That his poison didn't work. That his assassination attempts failed."Alaric exchanged glances with his brothers

Lyanna smiled."That," Lyanna said, "is exactly what your mother would have said. She believed in redemption. Believed that even the darkest people could choose differently."***Over the next day, other Council members came to visit.High Lord Theron appeared with an old text written in the ancient language."Your mother studied this," Theron said, handing her the book. "It's about hybrids. About what they represent. About the prophecies surrounding their existence.""I don't understand prophecies," Elara admitted."Neither did your mother, at first," Theron replied. "But she learned. And eventually, she understood that you were meant to exist. That you were written into the fabric of reality itself."He looked at her intently."You're not an accident, Elara," Theron said. "You're destiny."High Lord Aldric visited as well...the eldest, the one with the most authority.He didn't say much. He simply looked at Elara for a long time, studying her face, clearly seeing Auriel in her featu

The silence after Elara's testimony lasted for nearly a full minute.Then High Lady Seraphine stood.Her expression was one of pure fury mixed with desperation. She'd been quiet throughout Cassian's defense, throughout Elara's testimony. But now, as the Council prepared to move toward judgment, Seraphine could no longer contain herself."This is wrong," Seraphine said, her voice cutting through the chamber like a blade. "Everything about this is fundamentally, catastrophically wrong."Aldric looked at her with tired patience."High Lady Seraphine," Aldric said. "The testimony is complete. We move now toward...""We move toward the greatest mistake this Council has ever made," Seraphine interrupted. She stood and moved to the center of the chamber, her robes swirling around her in agitated movements. "And I will not be silent."She pointed at Elara."That creature, that abomination....sits in our Council chamber and we treat her as if she's one of us," Seraphine said, her voice drippin