Chapter 42

Chapter 42

ALICE

“ H e’s claiming she broke his wrist,” Sana said with a frown, reading the rather vulgar letter that had been hand delivered to the palace earlier that day. “And there were… witnesses. All of them saying the same thing, that the Broken Blade flew into a rage, in the middle of the street. And her power… well, I’ve never heard of powers like this before.”

Alice closed her eyes, her irritation brewing.

“Fey wouldn’t have attacked anyone without just cause,” she said, tapping her finger on the table. Though she at least could have given me a heads-up about this. “And if all he got from an encounter with her was a single broken bone, he should be thanking the Goddess herself. But I’ll talk to her. And I’ll make it clear she can’t just go around assaulting citizens, anymore. Send a letter back, telling them that?—”

“Kellos is dead,” a quiet voice interrupted.

Alice looked up from her conversation with Sana and met Silas’s gaze over the expanse of the throne room. She hadn’t even heard him arrive. The others had come early this evening, and the council meeting hadn’t officially started yet, each member attending to their own matters while they awaited the last representative. The Falcon Shifter looked haggard, like he hadn’t slept in days. It made him look several years older than she knew he was.

Grief could do that, though.

Setting her pen down slowly, Alice swallowed. “I’m sorry for your loss, Silas,” she said. And she meant it. “Kellos was a fine council member. A great representative. He will be missed.”

Death is always a struggle. Even when it’s expected, even when it might be welcomed, it’s never easy. Death leaves a hole in the hearts of all those left behind, a void that never fully disappears, even with time.

The others at the table murmured their own condolence. Even the Fallen King managed to make it sound sincere. Though, she supposed, when you live as long as he has, you must be well acquainted with death, and the pain it brings to a community.

A shame , Alice thought with a heavy heart. Kellos had been a great leader, and he had made tremendous strides on the council. Not just for the Shifter faction, either. And even knowing it had been coming, even knowing he was growing more ill and older by the day, it still was a great loss to?—

“No.” Silas’s voice was harsh, and he shook his head quickly from side to side. “No, you don’t understand. He didn’t just die. Kellos was killed last night.”

The room paused. Alice looked at Silas again and saw something in his eyes she hadn’t noticed before. Not grief.

Fear.

“Killed?” the deSanguine asked, sitting up straighter. “Who on God's green Earth would want to kill that old bag? Wasn’t time doing it quick enough for them?”

“What happened?” Alice demanded, attention laser focused on Silas.

“We’re still trying to figure that out,” Silas told them. His bird of prey eyes sought them each out, one by one, assessing them. “He… Goddess, he attacked his sister last night. Out of nowhere.”

“Regina?” Alice asked, blinking in shock. She knew the Lioness, knew her well in fact. They’d spilled blood together, side by side.

Silas nodded. “He had no reason to hurt his sister, none at all. But he… Regina says he wouldn’t stop. He just kept coming for her, over and over, until she… until she put him down.”

Alice winced.

“I think the council should speak with her,” Silas insisted. “She… something is wrong. Was wrong with Kellos. He wasn’t violent, wasn’t a fighter. The male Lions aren’t even hunters. He had no reason to do this, and he wouldn’t listen to her. It was like he wasn’t even there.”

“Age takes a lot from us,” Kallista said, her voice surprisingly compassionate. “I have seen more than one friend turn violent as they grow older. They become confused and lash out at the ones they love.”

Silas shook his head. “No. No, he wasn’t confused. He wasn’t Kellos.” When no one offered aid, he continued, incredulous. “Kellos was sick, yes, but he was still sharp. He wasn’t losing his mind. Goddess, I spoke to him less than a week ago and he was fine.”

“Perhaps I’m the one who is confused,” Cassiel said, irritation plain in his voice. “Why would he attack his sister, then?”

“I think this has something to do with the threats. With those posters,” Silas said. Alice fought against rolling her eyes. “I think he was drugged, or being controlled, or… or… I don’t know what. But that wasn’t Kellos, he wouldn’t have done that. He wouldn’t have put his sister through that.”

“We have no proof the group behind those posters pose any real threat,” Alice said. “Nothing has happened aside from someone putting up those damn messages.”

“ This ,” Silas insisted. “This is proof! The council was threatened, and now a council member is dead!”

“Enough,” Alice cut him off, and stood. “Council member Silas, you are out of line. There is nothing to investigate here. And we have other matters to discuss. Do you have even one speck of evidence for your claim?”

Silas’s eyes grew dark as he watched her, unblinking. But finally, he shook his head.

“Good.” Alice gathered her papers, shifting through them before taking her seat again. “Then I suggest we move on.”

“I just?—”

“When you get proof,” Alice snapped, interrupting Silas, “you can bring this matter back up to us. But until then, you will take your seat and do your job.”

Silas did so slowly, stalking to his chair and taking his seat.

But Alice didn’t miss the anger in his eyes. Didn’t miss the scorn.

Swallowing her own anger, Alice picked the first item on the agenda and began the meeting. They didn’t have time to chase wild theories down rabbit holes. They had a realm to rule.