Page 36 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood
I took two steps closer to him. “Are you saying that the nose of one of your careless guards is more important than the business of the royal Shadow Fae?”
Colm straightened his shoulders. “Not at all, Your Highness, but?—”
I pointed at her with a sharp gesture. “Do you understand how this impacts justice? She looks like a wreck, all banged up, bruised, and bloodied. If she is to stand before my people and my people are to have justice, then she cannot be harmed further. She must be whole and relatively well for the suffering and punishment to show its full effect. The assassin of a king must suffer publicly, and the punishment must be brutal, clear, and slow in its execution. I am here to determine which punishment is most fitting and to look into the eyes of the one who destroyed my father.” My right hand curled, the clawspricking the inside of my palm as I stared into his eyes. The claws of my left hand dug into my thigh as I fought to stay calm. I hated how this must sound to Briar, but if I wanted Colm to believe me, Briar had to remain clueless.
Colm sized me up with a sharp gaze, then straightened his shoulders and pressed his palms together. “I see.”
His expression did not suggest he agreed, and I knew I had to walk a fine line if I was going to convince him. Suspicion was standard, and he wasn’t convinced that I hated her.
Refusing to look away, I gave a curt nod. “Good. Now, I would speak with this woman in private.” I braced my hands against my belt and stared at him unblinking.
“Don’t fret. I'll be here with him.” Thalen crossed his arms.
Colm’s expression remained as guarded as before. He looked between Briar and me, his dull green eyes hard as granite and his ornamental claws pressed point for point against one another. His throat bobbed, and a fleeting image of me snapping his neck with my shadows emerged in my thoughts.
Eagerness to do that settled hard over me.
Patience. Not just yet. You have to play this with care.
The tension in his body was the only real indicator of his strain. He pressed his palms more tightly together. “Your Highness, please forgive me, but I cannot permit the request. The wretch has yet to confess how she managed to accomplish the assassination, and though we have taken every precaution, I cannot, in good conscience, permit you to be left alone with her, even with a member of your own guard.”
Huffing, Thalen chuckled. “Even with just one guard, I guarantee you that when we leave, there will be no missing extremities. Not so much as an ear or a fingertip.”
Scowling, Colm lifted his chin. “This is the first time anything like that has ever happened. There is no need for concern. Itwon’t happen again. Nonetheless, with no confession, I can’t allow a private conversation.”
I wanted to choke him. To rip each claw ring off his hand and impale them in his fingertips, but I gritted my teeth instead. They’d probably have a way to listen to our conversation regardless, though I'd have happily risked it. I couldn’t stand the hostile eyes on Briar. I wanted to sweep her close, brush the matted hair from her face, and whisper vows of vengeance and devotion. For now, I had to hope that she would understand the truth that lurked beneath the surface and that we all had a role to play.
I inclined my head at Colm’s words, pretending to consider them. “Very well. I suppose it makes little difference in the end.” I turned my attention to Briar.
The oil lamp flickered, and the foul air in the room pressed far too close. She met my gaze with a mix of defiance and fear. If she knew I was bluffing, she gave no sign. In truth, she likely believed I did hate her. My shadow stroked her ankle beneath the hem of her stained skirt, and she shivered.
My heart shattered into even smaller pieces.It wasn’t your fault. I know it wasn’t you. I’m going to save you.
If only she could hear my thoughts. All the things I longed to tell her.
Wishing was for fools.
I had never dreamed of finding someone whom I would love, let alone someone my sister and father both approved of as well. And these bastards had stolen her from me.
With every ounce of self-control, I hardened my voice. “Speak, woman, and tell me what happened.”
She looked down her nose, and her lips trembled. Her copper hair was all tangled, plastered and matted to her skull. “I did not kill him. I went to Rhielle’s room because I saw the door was open, and then someone attacked me?—”
“Lies,” Colm growled. Venom dripped from that single word as he stepped closer to her.
Her teeth bared as she shook her head. She fixed him with a gaze so murderous I knew she’d bite off his nose if she had the chance. “You’rethe one who’s lying.”
“She is a liar,” Colm continued. “You should not trust a word she says. I have looked into her mind, and I have seen the truth.”
I lifted one hand and kept my focus trained on her. When I spoke, my voice was hard as steel. “I want to hearherwords on this matter. Even if they are lies. Lies abound in this place.”
“What would you expect in a prison of traitors?” Thalen asked with a cold smile.
Briar’s face twisted, and her knuckles whitened as she curled her hands into fists. “I am not a liar or a traitor! I woke up next to the king. Some magic had been used to bind his dagger to my hand, but they had already stabbed him! I didn’t know it was attached when I pulled my hand away. I tried to stop the bleeding. All he said was ‘lilies.’ That’s all! Then the guards were there. I swear I didn’t kill him. How could you think so little of me that you would believe I’d do this? It doesn’t even make sense.” Her gaze fell to Thalen. “Please. I’ve been framed. I didn’t do this! I would never—I would never kill someone innocent.”
Thalen kept his stance firm, his expression like ice. One wing twitched. “Justice will not be avoided. Whatever aid is due will be granted, and the guilty will suffer. Simple as that, Briar. Can’t be any other way.”
Her expression fell, and her gaze dropped. Only the slight increase in Thalen’s wing twitching told me how much saying that had ripped him apart inside.
