Chapter 50
Fifty
Casimir
A low rumble permeated the door behind which we stood, waiting for the right time.
“It’s going to be fine,” I said, kissing her forehead with all the tenderness I possessed. “You’re going to do fine. Better than fine. You’re going to be great.”
“Thanks.”
I could sense her lack of conviction through our bond and sent my love, my trust, my belief of her and everything she was crashing through it from my side. Now was not the time for doubts. Now was the time to keep our heads high and begin to effect the changes we desired.
“Soon this will be over,” I told her. “Tomorrow, we can return to your friends. You can put this all behind you for a bit. I can stop being the ice tyrant and just be your Caz.”
She clutched at me, squeezing tightly in a hug I wished would go on forever. “You’ll always be my Caz. Don’t you forget that. No matter how wrapped up in your other side you get, you better come back to me.”
“The heat-death of the world couldn’t keep me from being everything you’ll ever need,” I vowed, lifting her hands to my mouth and kissing them tenderly.
The rumble from the other side of the door was growing louder.
Anna sighed. “You had better get out there before they start killing each other.”
I tapped my chin. “On second thought, maybe I should stay here with you a bit longer. We might get lucky, and they’ll all die off.”
Anna laughed, but she put her hands on my chest and pushed. Gently. “Go, Caz. Go be their tyrant, and show them who rules here, before they get any more ideas.”
“As my mate commands,” I growled, bowing low.
The throne room erupted into cacophony as I strode in through the side door and ascended the steps, plunking myself in my seat without any formality.
I did not address the simple black uniform I wore, different from my usual “formal” court attire.
I did not address the way I sat. I did not address that I sat in one of two thrones arrayed before them.
I did not need to kowtow to their rules if I did not want to.
As Anna had reminded me, I was the tyrant. Not them.
“Silence!” I bellowed, alpha power cutting off all noise in the room as it reached the back corners. “I am here before you today with two things to announce.”
Spines sat straighter. It was rare that I called a full assembly of the elites simply to announce something. Usually, they only met to debate laws or enact new ones that worked in their favor. This was different.
“First. A sad piece of news.” I gestured at Dirk, who hauled open the doors at the back. There was a heavy rustle as heads turned to see what was going on.
My brother and my warlord hauled the traitor into the room. She walked on her own, her head held high, showing off the silver band of a slave collar around her neck. Her eyes were focused on me, hatred trying to impale me to my very throne as she was brought forward.
“What is going on here?” Mirko shouted, jumping to his feet. “What is the meaning of this treatment of one of our elites?”
I fixed him with a glare so cold and hostile that Mirko fell quiet. Perhaps he could sense the changing of the winds, or perhaps he was biding his time, hoping I would screw up.
“Bryna Allard, formerly Bryna Dvorak, has been charged with a litany of crimes. The most heinous of which is treason against the state. She is to stand trial two weeks from today. May I remind the room that the punishment for such an offense is death.”
If the room was loud when I entered, it went apoplectic at this. Dragons shot to their feet, hands raised as they shouted at me and at one another. The loudest supporters came from my uncle Mirko’s camp. Mirko himself, however, was watching me with silent analysis.
I know, you traitorous piece of trash. I know it was you. I just can’t prove it. But I will.
Something flashed in Mirko’s eyes. Did he understand the meaning behind my look? Did he realize I knew damn well his “estrangement” with Bryna had been a fraud, a sham, all to allow her to operate the markets unseen but with his money?
Florian and Dirk ignored the shouting and anger, bringing Bryna to the foot of the dais on which my throne sat. There they forced her to her knees, none too gentle about it either.
Raising a hand to silence the crowd, Mirko stood.
“Alpha,” he said, his voice carrying to every corner of the room. “You must release my mate. She has done nothing wrong.”
I stared at him. Had I misinterpreted his earlier look? Was the man really that stupid?
“Is that so, Mirko?” I asked, leaning forward to stare him down. “Do you wish to tell me, then, how your estranged mate knew exactly who Anna was and had a bounty out on her with the hunters?”
Mirko clenched his jaw, wisely choosing the path of silence instead of incriminating himself.
“Sit down,” I ordered. “I am not done. As I said, I have two things to announce today. The arrest of your estranged mate is but the first. I am not alone in accusing her of such things.”
The crowd murmured again. I saw more than one set of eyes linger on the empty seat next to me. Had they figured it out yet?
“As an additional witness of the crimes besides me, I call forth Anna Carradine to stand and testify to the shameful actions of Bryna.”