Play.
There. I paused the footage and zoomed in on Zaya’s blank expression. It was as if she felt absolutely nothing while she ripped Yakariah’s heart out. He’d pled for his life, begged her to stop, and she hadn’t even flinched.
I shook my head. “It doesn’t make any fucking sense.” I’d watched this tape on repeat for three damn days, and rather than feel satisfied with the results, I only had a million more questions.
“Everyone handles trauma differently,” Adrik said, exhaustion heavy in his voice.
He and Valora had refused to leave, mostly because Valora feared for Zaya’s life. It put us all in a political bind with Yakariah being a Nova Kingdom demon.
Napia was convinced Zaya had no understanding of decorum and might very well attack a member of her court as well. When I explained the situations weren’t linked, that Zaya’s history with Yakariah played a key role in her behavior, Napia had just laughed and accused me of favoring my pet over doing the right thing. Her father had agreed, saying I should get rid of the plaything and find another.
Apparently, they all believed Zaya was my mistress.
We were
linked by blood, something a serpent demon would never understand.
My mother had been oddly quiet on the whole issue, allowing me to lead, but I felt her stern judgment from the shadows. If I fucked this up, she’d react accordingly.
And my claim to the throne would likely be suspended.
If that allowed me to postpone my marriage to the viper princess, I’d probably consider the option.
I clicked Rewind again, hit Play, and watched the footage again.
And again.
And again.
Adrik focused on the screen as well, his brow furrowed. “It’s like she switched off all her emotions.”
“I know.” That was the part that really bugged me. As well as how she killed Yakariah. “I don’t understand why she went for his heart.”
“It’s a rather inefficient method of death,” Adrik agreed. “It made one hell of a mess, too.”
“And it goes against everything I taught her. She did this knowing she’d be caught.” Which confused the hell out of me. “Her technique here is almost elementary.” I pointed to the screen, watching in slow motion as she hit Yakariah upside the head, causing him to stumble forward. “She ruined the element of surprise and almost lost the fight.”
“It’s an odd move.” Adrik fell silent, observing more of the footage, then shook his head. “I’ve not spent enough time around her to know her style, but I know you, Grigory. If you think something isn’t right, then something isn’t right. Your gut is rarely wrong, even when it’s biased toward a woman you want to fuck.”
I sighed. “I haven’t.”
“I know.”
“And I won’t.”
“That I don’t believe,” he replied, his lips twitching at the edges. “Unless you condemn her to death, in which case, maybe.”
“I’m not going to execute her.” I couldn’t even muster up the courage to visit her in holding, let alone punish her. There was no way I could kill her.
“You need to talk to her,” Adrik said. “Hear her side of the story. Personally, I’d like to know how she got one up on Cyprus.”
Yes, that was another mystery I couldn’t solve. He’d been knocked out cold in her suite with no signs of a fight. “How could she subdue him so easily, then fuck up Yakariah’s murder so catastrophically?” I asked. “The two methods don’t match.”
“Not at all.” Adrik stroked his chin, fresh stubble dotting his jaw. We both looked like hell after three days of not shaving. I’d barely even taken the time to steal a shower today but had needed the water to help wake myself up again.
Poor Zaya had been without a shower since the incident.
She probably still wore Yakariah’s blood.