Selene’s knees hit the cold floor before words left her mouth.“I swear,” she said, voice thin and broken. “I did not, I would never poison anyone. I would never” Her breath failed. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I did not give her poison.”

The room held its breath. Kaelen stood like a statue, his face unreadable. The guards closed the distance and moved as one to take her hands. She did not struggle. Her mind spun. She felt small, hollow, and terrified.

A healer, filled with ...