Page 107 of When Night Falls

"We can tell that there is some animosity between the two societies." One of the Nocturne council members speaks up. "We've already been made aware of murders within theValor Cover Society. Murders of innocents both Outsider and Nocturne." This news is not new to me, but vexation still rings through my eyes because I do start to feel vacuous for not being able to focus on this problem as much as I'd like, if only to clear the name of Hollows Trace.

Instead, my mind has been somewhere else entirely, now realizing just how fucking mesmeric Lucynda is and just how lethal my tether to her is.

"Within the last three weeks, four Outsiders of no threat and having no victims have been nearly torn to shreds, and one Nocturne of royalty has been murdered. His heart was torn from his body and then burned." One of the other members stands and speaks the notes from a clipboard he brought before another makes his statement.

"Rivian, your highness, we understand that accusations aren't taken lightly, but you have to understand as well that we need to act on these broken laws."

I turn to look at Zharus again who seems to be a bit withdrawn from this whole situation. Probably because he's nervous someone recognized him in all of his sneaking around. Nightly booty-calls are never the way to go when there's a rogue on the loose.

I run my hand against my jaw, still feeling the way Lucynda's orgasm broke apart against my lips. I shake my thought to try to focus on this meeting once more.

"And because I am from the same Society that initiated the cause for the treaty in the first place, I assume that I am the only line of sight for your subject to act?" I refer back to the time my father nearly unleashed a massacre on Valor Cove to find his wife all those years ago. The same wife who seemed to have a better idea for her life here even though she took from someone else's right to be here just the same.

"We have a video of two of your members forcing their way into Valor Cove's compound. We don't have a choice."

My eyes dart to Zharus but fear does not reflect on his face. Instead, he bows his head and I wonder if he's already confessed in my absence or if he simply feels shame for what he's done. But if he is who they plan to blame, then they've got it all wrong. And it isn’t lost on me that the member of the Faction notedtwoof my Society members. Who could the other one be?

"I can assure you that there has been a misunderstanding-" I plan fully to raise a defense, though I wouldn't be entirely sure what my defense would be other than what I know about why Zharus was sneaking out.

But the interruption of another member has me questioning everything I thought I might have known, which actually isn't much at all. I've been severely distracted.

"Bring them in."

My head snaps toward the door in confusion. I try my best to stay calm, but frustration strikes a chord at the thought that they've already captured who they think is responsible. That's when I realize that Zharus isn't even in their line of sight when I see who the Faction guards carry through my doors.

"Rivian!" Troian's voice echoes off the walls of the great hall as her face is contorted with confusion and anger. She kicks at the guards who have her shackled up but her fight is meaningless as one of them smacks her in the face.

"This is a misunderstanding." My composure is on its last thread of control as I feel the binds start to unravel its containment.

Troian kicks the giant in his shin which causes him to content another smack against her cheek.

"Enough!" I demand of him, hating that they have my little sister bound by their constraints. I know she barely felt the hand across her face because she's a tough bitch, but I wince at theidea that someone I love is in danger, despite my need to hide those feelings from the rest of the world.

No one dares speak or move as we hear the drag of more chains coming in from behind Troy. Two more guards hold Travois by his elbows as they take their place next to Troy.

I give Trav a look of frustration, wondering what the fuck he did to get them in this position. He, unlike Troian, doesn't fight or squirm or grunt. Instead, he stands up straight, head held high as chains fall from his hand and ankles.

I look to the Faction for answers knowing that my face is reflecting my need for war right now. "Somebody better start fucking explaining."

"These two forced their way into my kingdom this morning after being denied entry." Viktrum stands from his chair with his palms placed confidently on the top of the table, a smirk dripping in satisfaction on his face. "Of course, you know why I had to deny entry."

"I just wanted to see my mom, Rivian. I'm such a fucking idiot." Troy's fiery light seems to dissipate as she hangs her head. "She didn't want to see me." Desolation bleeds from her words and I hate that their mother caused this pain in her. That she did thisto me.

"They fought my guards, who then alerted the Faction but the force of which they insisted entry led me to believe they were dangerous. And well, you know what happened from there."

I have to fix this. This is my fault for being so naive to the obsession that Lucynda caused in me.

"These are members of my royal family. They were acting on my word. They sought out to extend a wedding invitation to…" I trail off, knowing that my words don't mean a damn thing to them at a time like this.

They expect results and their reputation must remain intact so they have to provide the societies with reassurance that they takeaccusations seriously, or else everyone would feel enabled to try and get away with their own destructive activities. But they can't be seriously considering that my siblings are the cause for chaos between societies. At least not Troy.

That's when a sense of foreboding crosses my mind. Something isn't right.

I look to Travois who does nothing but stare into the ceiling.

"There has to be a mistake. They wouldn't betray my law." I let concern lace my tone enough to allow them to see that I won't stand for the false accusation, when really I want to rip all of their throats out just to unchain my siblings.

"The matter is, murders have been committed that register the reason for punishment against treason. We have a job to do and the other societies will believe that they are capable of getting away with chaos if we do not enforce some kind of disciplinary action while we allow time for innocence to be proven, your highness." The member who speaks to me bows his head on his last words which doesn't do anything more than light me up with anger.

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