Kael's Point Of View.

“Aria must die.”

The sound of boots echoed long before Joren appeared again.

I didn’t have to look up to know he was dragging the fool in.

The air in the throne room had gone still, heavy with smoke and the stench of spilled wine.

My pulse had calmed, but not my thoughts. I sat there, elbows resting on my knees, staring at the dying fire while that one phrase kept circling in my skull.

The man stumbled, dropped to his knees, and stayed there.

I didn’t ...