Page 72 of Degradation

“What’s wrong? Is she hurt?” he demanded.

Daemon was a second behind his brother in reaching for me.

“She is not hurt,” I said, answering for myself. “She is very angry.”

Liam surrendered me to Darian, who settled onto the lounge with me on his lap. Daemon picked up my feet and removed my shoes. I exhaled heavily, focusing on their love rather than the hate that still bubbled inside of me.

“When I left Pogwid this morning, I cast a spell to protect her should the queen attempt to take her powers. It worked. The purpose of the public hanging was to find the caster and anyone else who’d helped Pogwid evade the queen’s reach.

“The queen took Pogwid’s fingers one by one to make her speak. Then she took Pogwid’s tongue because that bold, abrasive woman dared speak of nothing but the vile crimes the queen had committed. In an attempt to find Pogwid’s supporters, the queen left Pogwid’s eyes so she would look to those who helped her before the moment of her death.”

“Thus, the public hanging,” Liam said.

I nodded and felt more tears rain down my cheeks.

“I wanted to help her, but she said I couldn’t. That the queen was too powerful and that I would risk all of you to do so.”

“She said that?” Liam said.

“Not aloud. When I was connected with her.”

“My poor Lamb,” Daemon said, rubbing my feet soothingly.

“Did the queen know you connected with her?” Garron asked.

“No. She was too focused on the three of her casting stones that had shattered and how Pogwid and taken their power to heal her tongue so she could speak. It was a warning to other casters to choose death rather than allow the queen to take their power.”

Liam paused his pacing before the hearth when Philip entered with a tray.

“Have you received responses for tonight?” Liam asked.

“I have. Everyone will attend.”

“Even after what happened?” I asked.

“Because of what happened,” Philip said. “The queen has never lost control like that before. The state of her face, which she has always shown, proved she is not infallible. As did the way Pogwid shattered her casting stones.”

I didn’t correct him.

“What of the woodcutter?” I asked Garron. “Did he return home?”

“He did. But with no memory of us. There was nothing I could do for the cobbler, who likely saw us leaving as well.”

I opened my senses and felt the people still waiting for us at our home. The cobbler was no longer in the back room, and I doubted that the people standing near the door were him.

“I believe he’s already been taken,” I said. My gaze went to Darian and Daemon. “I’m sorry I lost control this morning.”

Darian shook his head. “Your loss of control this morning isn’t a problem. You didn’t hurt anyone. The queen did.”

The others nodded.

“We’ll find a way to get Edmund and Brandle back,” Daemon said.

Yet, I felt his doubt. His brothers nurtured the same seed of disbelief, though they tried to hide it.

“How many nobles are attending tonight?” I asked.

“Twelve,” Philip said. “I’ve prepared the invitations for tomorrow as well if your highnesses would care to review them.”

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