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Chapter thirty

Adelyna

S obs wrang out through the dank prison hall.

It didn’t take long for the masked executioner to pry a confession out of Nerine—she always had a weak stomach.

That stomach was drastically weakened by being chained to a blood-crusted pillar in the dark, drafty dungeon, while wearing nothing but a shift.

The finery of the court was a world away and replaced with stale air and stained stones.

All the executioner had to do was approach while holding the pliers for Nerine to start confessing to sending the demon after Adelyna—and then blame everyone she knew for her actions.

And that wasn’t all for Nerine—she then rattled off others’ supposed crimes, betraying every acquaintance she had.

If anyone was keeping a record of this confession in detail, there would be a long list of offenses, ranging from petty theft to treason for the inquisitors to investigate.

None of that mattered to Adelyna. The entire court could burn. Though, it wasn’t entirely Nerine’s fault she was a speedy penitent when faced with an executioner—few were able to keep their composure, or their dinner.

“Never thought this would happen, did you, sister?” Aherin asked, leaning closer to her. “I thought her in love with you.”

Her throat tightened. She paused to collect her thoughts—she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction. “Was that before, during, or after you fucked her?” Adelyna asked.

“Now, now—that’s hardly appropriate language for a trial.”

No, it was just what was needed. Her father ordered this to be kept small—just himself, Aherin, Adelyna, the executioner, the court recorder, and a couple high-ranking nobles.

Which meant that everyone else at court would find out what happened before midnight.

Disgustingly, the person responsible for getting Nerine into this mess was sitting next to her, chewing on dried dates from a platter.

Taunting her. Adelyna and Aherin sat on the R?ll’s right side, while most of the other attendees stood.

Not that the seriousness of the events kept Aherin from gloating. Loudly.

Aherin. A greedy and desperate second son after all.

Moments later, Nerine finally stopped confessing and hung her head, silent sobs wracking her body.

She was going to die tonight, there was no other option.

And she knew it. Nerine had tried to kill the heir to the throne and had admitted it.

This wasn’t a trial so much as a hunting expedition to find accomplices.

There was nothing Adelyna could do, even if she wanted to. Even though the scene would forever leave a hole in her heart.

“Living Gods, I thought she’d never stop,” Aherin said, polishing off the goblet of wine and wiping his face with the back of his hand. Adelyna bit her lip. “She sure can squeal.”

“This is a trial, not a play,” the R?ll said.

“Of course, Lord.” Aherin said contrite words, though his smirk was anything but. A smirk the R?ll didn’t see.

Adelyna took a deep breath. Steady. There was nothing to be gained by feuding with Aherin here.

She needed to think . Aherin had to have talked Nerine into doing this.

There was no other way she would have done something so cruel and reckless.

Yet Nerine was going to die, while her brother sat shoving fruit into his mouth, his hand fiddling with the lace on his sleeve. A spoiled, opulent brat.

But…what if Nerine hadn’t been the one to attack her?

That would be like Aherin, to find someone with a similar demon and foist the blame elsewhere.

He did similar things before, such as enlisting servants to help him sneak into women’s quarters for an assignation, and using them to take any blame.

Removing Adelyna’s ally, while breaking her heart and distracting her from things that mattered—why, that would be too perfect to overlook.

Was it possible?

Was this all a mistake?

“Stop.” The word left Adelyna’s mouth before she could think. Time seemingly obeyed her command. The executioner turned toward her and bowed his head. Everyone else in attendance stared. Even Nerine lifted her head, her eyes brimming with hope.

Too late to take it back. Time to see this through—or face a lifetime of regret.

“I will talk to the prisoner,” Adelyna said, pushing herself off the chair and adjusting her crimson skirts.

“Is this necessary?” Aherin asked. “She already confessed. Several times. ”

“Yes,” Adelyna said. “It is.”

“Lord?” Aherin asked the R?ll.

The R?ll watched Adelyna. He knew what Nerine had meant to her. Her father wasn’t stupid—he had to have been aware of the power struggle between her and Aherin. The struggle occurring this very moment. Would he gainsay the wishes of his heir in favor of his son?

“Very well,” the R?ll said, settling back in his seat. “The proceeding is now yours, Lady. In all respects.”

The others in attendance murmured behind their hands while Aherin crossed his legs and grinned.

He received what he wanted after all. Dread entered Adelyna’s stomach.

Did Aherin plan this? Was he that clever?

“All respects”—was that the price? Would Adelyna really be forced to carry out Nerine’s sentence, too, if she wanted the “luxury” of more interrogation?

Adelyna coughed. “ All respects, Lord?”

“Yes. It’s the R?ll’s responsibility.” Her father’s expression was stone.

His mind was made up, even if his words weren’t quite accurate.

Yes, the R?ll did have to carry out certain executions—rare ones.

Ceremonial ones, if executions could be called that.

Having her perform this was nothing but a test, and a cruel one at that.

She had a choice—she could either learn the truth of whether Nerine did attack her and potentially kill Nerine herself, or have the executioner do it and live with doubt forever.

It was no choice at all.

“Of course, Lord,” Adelyna said, bowing to her father.

She had no choice but to let him toy with her broken heart.

Aherin’s eyebrow lifted—did he think she was too weak to do it?

Probably. But Adelyna had been preparing to rule her entire life, while her sop of a brother only learned how to rule his privy.

As the future R?ll, she was prepared to do this.

And more. She would never be able to tolerate threats to her life once she was on the throne.

Adelyna approached Nerine, who looked at her beseechingly. Her face was bruised and bloodied, her fiery hair scattered across her back, which was soaked with sweat through her shift. Adelyna swallowed. Underneath it all, Nerine was still the woman she had loved. Still loved.

“Adi—”

“No,” Adelyna snapped. “I am the Kor’yitz.”

“Of course, Your Ascendance,” Nerine whimpered. Adelyna didn’t give a fuck if Nerine called her “Ascendance,” “Adi,” or the “Shitty Moon Kicker”—but there was an audience. An audience with expectations.

For a moment, Adelyna inspected Nerine. How in the name of the Underworld’s Lord was she going to get the answer she needed? She had to know the truth, though a condemned woman would say anything.

“Why? Why did you do it?” Adelyna asked.

No answer.

Fuck. Nerine could have at least protested her innocence. Beg. Anything.

“Why?”

Still no answer.

Did Adelyna even ask the question? Was Nerine pretending not to hear?

Then Nerine looked at Adelyna, and her expression made what was left of Adelyna’s heart crack. “The world is going to break,” Nerine whispered. “I didn’t want it to break you too.”

What?

“You didn’t want to ‘break me.’ So, you were to kill me instead?”

“There are worse things than a quick death.”

Adelyna leaned closer to Nerine, who still carried traces of her expensive perfume buried under the sweat and blood. “You could have done all this without loving Aherin, too,” she whispered.

Nerine smirked like the two of them were sharing secrets. “Part of the reason you loved me was because I never missed an opportunity,” she said. “I’m guilty, Lady. Do what you must.”

Guilty. Adelyna had been utterly betrayed after all.

Wordless, Adelyna stepped back and nodded her head. “Lord,” she said clearly. She would not betray any emotion, not now. “Lord, if it pleases you, I’m ready to carry out the sentence. The accused has admitted her guilt beyond doubt.”

Adelyna did not take her eyes off Nerine.

Not while there was rustling and steps behind her.

Not until the executioner bowed, holding out a sword.

The hilt was cold in Adelyna’s hands, the sword heavier than expected.

For the trial she had worn the Kor’yitz’s ceremonial red silk gown, and now there was a broadsword in hand, about to carry out an execution.

She would do what needed to be done. It was her duty. No matter how much it hurt .

Adelyna blinked back tears. Later, she would mourn Nerine, and then she would act. She would do what she had to in order to obtain magic that should have been hers. Her brother had taken her lover from her—he was not going to take her crown too.