THORNE POINT OF VIEW.

The sound of boots scraping against stone echoed through the throne room as the guards dragged the girl away.

She was crying now but her pleas bounced off the walls and died before they reached me.

I didn’t stop them, I just watched as Syrah was pulled through the doors and out of Shadowfang, her fate sealed by her own choices.

When the doors finally slammed shut, the room fell quiet.

Cairn stood a few steps away, his jaw tight, his hands clenched behind his back. ...