Page 31 of Rise of the Siren Queen
Ronan’s gaze remained steady, his expression calm but cold as heregarded her outburst.
“I thought things through, Elora,” he said, his voice low and measured. “Unlike you, I don’t act on impulse.”
“Well, considering the human almost got killed, I would say you didn’t think enough.” Elora shot back, throwing her hands up. “And my impulse has probably saved your skin more times than I care to count. You should thank me.” Ronan’s eyes flashed dangerously, his tail flicking behind him as he strode toward her.
“Enough.” I cut through their bickering, my tone firm. “We don’t have time for this. The problem is Ithra, and how she tried to kill a human, going against our laws. Focus on that, not your personal grievances.”
Elora shot Ronan a glare before turning her attention back to me, her posture stiff but compliant. Ronan gave me a nod, though I could see his shadows still bubbling in his eyes.
“This isn’t over,” Elora muttered under her breath as she stepped back, glaring at Ronan. He didn’t even flinch.
“I wouldn’t expect it to be,” he said smoothly, though his lips rose upward and a flicker of challenge crossed his gaze.
“What do you want to do with Ithra, Your Highness?” Kieran asked, his voice in a respectable tone. I could see how his muscle tensed in his posture, and the way he braced himself for my response.
My mind raced, thoughts racing like the turbulent waters of the ocean. I wasn’t planning on revealing the truth about the mate bond just yet, not to anyone, not even to my loyal confidants. The stakes were too high, and I couldn’t risk their safety or the alliance we had forged. Even if it meant lying to them, I would do it. My heart pounded, each beat hammering against the uncertainty curling in my stomach.
The pressure of my decision pressed against my chest, tightening with every breath.
“I want to banish her or mark her as crimson tides,” I replied, my voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. The very thought of Ithra’s betrayal ignited the embers of anger within me. My irritation barely contained a smoldering lightning that threatened to strike.
The darkness of my expression matched the turmoil in my heart. Torn between justice and mercy, I despised the fact that I had to even consider mercy for someone who had tried to kill my mate and so blatantly undermined my authority.
I’m wasn’t made for mercy. I was forged for vengeance.
Marking her as crimson tides loomed large in my mind, more fitting than a simple banishment. It was a public mark of shame, a constant reminder of their crime.
The thought of the ocean around Ithra turning blood-red sent a delicious chill down my spine. Not from fear, no, not anymore, but from a darker place, from that deeper shadow that had stained my soul since the murder of my parents. That part of merelishedat the idea. It would visibly brand her as a murderer in the eyes of the pod, a title she deserved after breaking the law. I wanted her to feel it.
Was that cruel? Maybe. But cruelty didn’t seem so unforgivable when it deserved. When it was justice.
I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms as I forced my breathing to steady. Aetheria preached mercy, but what mercy had Ithra shown? She had schemed and nearly killed, and for what? Power?
No. There would be no forgiveness.
“You will need the council’s approval, my princess,” Sienna advised, her tone polite but firm. I appreciated her support, but the reminder of the council’s power only deepened my resentment.
The council, those who had never faced the bloodied hands of betrayal like I had. They would sit in judgment, pontificating about justice, while freeing criminals.
“There’s no need for titles when we’re alone. You can speak freely,” I reminded them, trying to maintain my composure despite the storm brewing within.
I wanted to scream, to unleash the torrent of feelings that ripped at me from the inside. My responsibility stifling my breath, suffocating me. This was my kingdom, my people, and I need to protect them while coping with my grief.
“I know,” I continued, forcing the words out as I glanced at Sienna. Her gentle demeanor steadying my thoughts. “But with the queen’s support and your mother’s, I can sentence her.”
The words hung with unspoken implications. Sienna’s eyes met mine, and I could see the concern flickering behind her poised facade. She understood what I was proposing.
Bringing Ithra to justice brought a satisfaction within me, but it was a fragile thing, easily tempered by the reality of the council’s nature.
Justice, in Aetheria, wasn’t about what was right, it was about power, about control, about whose voice carried the most influence at the moment.
I knew that better than anyone.
“Ithra’s actions have put us all at risk,” I added, trying to sound resolute, but my voice wavered slightly. “She tried to kill an innocent human and acted against the crown. There must be consequences.”
Another wave of anger coursed through my veins, boiling beneath the surface like a tempest ready to break free. I was furious, not just at Ithra for her audacity, but also at Thalor. The way he operated, slipping through the cracks without leaving a trace, made my blood boil. He had a knack for manipulating situations, and his recent private conversation with Kieran only intensified my worry.
I knew all too well that charging him with anything would be futile. He would evade any attempt to hold himaccountable with his charming smile and calculated words.
