Page 108 of When Night Falls

"What's the solution?" Zharus speaks up in an almost unrecognizable voice. Maybe he's trying to not give too much away so as not to give the Faction a reason to believe that he might be involved as well. Viktrum looks between him and my siblings, then back to me with enjoyment displayed in his expression.

"They are to be held in contempt until a confession is made or until we have proven who the real culprit is. Innocent until proven guilty." I'm told and a laugh nearly barrels through me in hysteria, but I let my rage shine through instead.

"This is ridiculous!"

"It's the word of law, sir."

"Rivian, it's fine," Troy says from behind me. "Lucynda needs you right now, don't make this worse than it needs to be."

I know she's right, but I hate that she's right. If I had never allowed Lucynda to infiltrate my head or had forced her to succumb to the past I plan to avenge, this wouldn't have happened. But my mind is made up, what's done is done. I won't go back on my word. And fortunately for her, I need her. In more ways than one.

Fear clouds Troian's eyes, I can tell her fight is fading as she struggles against the shackles she's trapped in. It isn't like her to lose herself to war or to surrender so easily. Her mother's denial broke her further than I anticipated which only fuels my need to win this battle.

But before I have a chance to jump for any one of the men before me, a confession comes free.

"I did it."

Everyone looks to Travois. His head still high and his eyes unreadable as he stands confidently in front of everyone in the room.

"It was me." His assurance should be satisfactory to me, but I know better.

Blood boils in my veins as I think of all the times I might have questioned his loyalty knowing now that this isn't one of his secrets. I watch his false confession pull a smirk across Viktrum's face.

"Well, well. So, it was one of you all along." Viktrum's words sound unconvincing yet it's as if he knew all along and without doubt that this is exactly what would happen and it infuriates me. Something doesn't feel right.

"I killed your useless brother. Let her go." He spits at Viktrum as he nods over to his sister who seems just as shocked as everyone else.

Trav has been quiet, unmoving, and compliant this whole interaction. Almost too compliant.

Kind of like he was compelled. I see a flash of understanding flicker in his eyes as he shakes his head so subtly at me, no one else notices it.

What the fuck is he doing?

"I'm guilty," he reiterates, and I have no choice but to fall in line with the actions that must take place next.

"Rivian," Troy's defeated gasp reaches my ears and I feel the pain laced in her tone.

"Let her go," I demand to the guards that keep my sister captive.

They look over me to the Faction members, waiting for approval. Their hesitation vexes me.

"I said let her go!" My eyes grow dark as I show them my bloodlust, letting my voice carry in vibrations throughout the room.

Troian drops to her knees at the release from the guards, chains hitting the cemented ground below her and her spirit dropping with it. She looks up at her brother and a tear nearly escapes her eye.

"How could you?" she asks him and I turn to look at Trav who is still motionless.

"It's settled then. Travois will be convicted of treason, and you can go along your merry way with your new bride." Viktrum goes to take a few steps further toward me as his taunting tone does nothing to settle the events that he's about to subject himself to; his common sense evading him. "How was she tonight? Did she perform her wifely duties like a good girl?"

I snap.

I jump the table to grab Viktrum by his shirt. He bares his sharp teeth at me and attempts to push me back but what he fails to remember is that my wifedidperform her duties and I am a hell of a lot stronger than he ever will be. I throw him back against the wall, his head smacks against the cement but hedoesn’t show evidence of the pain. Everyone scrambles to their feet but even the guards are smart enough to know that they would be insane to interfere with the wrath of a new king.

I lower my tone so only he can hear as I grip him by his neck, his feet tiptoe against the floor as I press him further into the wall allowing him not even a sliver of air to grace his lungs.

"I know you're up to something. I know that you know more than you're letting on and I will fucking find out what it is. You'd do best to stay clear of me from here on out. Or it'll beyour lifethat ends next." I push my hand into the boundaries of his heart, invading his chest once again.

"Is that a threat?” He gets out in a scratchy breath, his voice barely audible as he fights for air. “Maybe if you had a tighter leash on your beloved family, this wouldn't be happening." His argument back at me is untenable, I know this is a setup. It has to be. This is what he wants, to show everyone just how unhinged the new king of Hollows Trace really is. It would make sense to everyone why my brother would be the one who went rogue, because I have also lost control. But despite this revelation, I feel the need to prove to everyone just who not to fuck with.

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