But I killed Lavios, I whispered.
I know.
You framed Gareth. I realized that already, of course, but the words were only now forming. Adrik neither confirmed nor denied it, but he didn’t need to. I already knew. This is wrong.
I couldn’t allow this to happen.
Not to an innocent man.
“Necros, please stop...” The plea left my lips, my mind not catching up with reason.
Necros spun around and glared at me for interrupting his tirade. “Excuse me?”
“Are…” I swallowed, the thick lump in my throat threatening to burst. “A-are you certain he’s guilty?”
“Are you questioning my authority, wife?” he asked, the lethal softness of his tone holding a whisper of warning.
“N-no, My Lord,” I stammered. “I-I’m just… I wondered, is all.”
“At the evidence?” he prompted.
I swallowed again. “Y-yes.”
His pupils flared, his nostrils following suit. “I am the judge, jury, and executioner in this kingdom. If I say he’s guilty, he’s guilty.”
“Yes, My Lord,” I whispered, flinching as he smashed Gareth’s third hand without looking at him.
“Does anyone else question my will?” he roared, addressing the crowd.
A chorus of silence served as a reply.
And those sinister eyes fell on me once more. “You’ll pay for this interruption later. And I’ll make sure you know who is in charge by the end of it before I force you to beg for more.”
My throat constricted.
All I could do was nod.
Say no more, Adrik seethed in my mind.
My energy dissipated, no longer able to even reply to him.
What more could I do? My fate was already sealed. As it seemed Gareth’s was as well.
A guard handed Necros the demon’s infamous whip. My husband wrapped his large hands around the handle and brought it down hard onto Gareth’s back. The former lieutenant writhed in agony as Necros did it again and again and again, ripping the fabric from the male’s body and drawing forth rivers of blue blood.
This is my future, I realized, horrified. When he finds out what I’ve done, what I’m capable of doing…
Adrik murmured a reply, but the rushing sound of my own blood blocked him from my mind.
Stop it, stop it, I recited in my head, flooded with guilt.
I couldn’t admit what I’d done.
Didn’t desire to take Gareth’s place, not when I knew he deserved this and so much more. He’d destroyed so many, adored raping women, and certainly had a horrible night planned for me. That knowledge was the comfort I had to hold on to.
He deserves this. The voice was my own. Or maybe it belonged to Adrik. At this point, I no longer knew.
Blood had painted my vision a dark shade of blue which didn’t match the surroundings.