Page 63 of Stone Heart
“Dese, Manea, and Cyan, are you sure you want to go down this road?” he asked the other women, while Avalena dangled from his outstretched arm.
“We didn’t know she was the mate to Rhodack.” The first female hung her head and stepped away from Avalena.
The other two shook their heads with widened eyes, and they, too, distanced themselves from her.
“Avalena just told us she was a new addition to the harem,” the second one cried out, her saucer-like eyes pleading with Vikuth. “I swear we didn’t know she was Rhodack’s mate.”
“Please forgive us.” The third one looked directly at Rina. “We didn’t mean any harm. We would never harm Rhodack’s mate.”
“You three, leave,” Vikuth barked before Rina could respond.
They jumped and scrambled away. They disappeared into the crowd without a glance back at them.
“Princess, what do you want me to do with her?”
Rina had to keep her mouth from hitting the ground. She stood frozen. He wanted her to make a decision on what to do with Avalena?
“As the mate of our lord, it will be your decision on her punishment,” one of Vikuth’s men murmured behind her.
“Banishing her would be the ultimate disgrace,” the other one said. “She’d no longer be welcome in the clan. She’d be cast out to live amongst the common gargoyles and lose her position.”
“That would be too lenient for Rhodack,” the first one chuckled.
Rina glanced over at Vikuth as he waited for her decision. She knew that as a future queen, she’d have to make decisions like this and some much harder.
“Banish her. She’ll no longer be a member of Rhodack Gahnoth’s harem,” she announced, walking toward Vikuth. Her voice grew strong and echoed around them. “Or Clan Gahnoth.”
Gasps filled the air from the observers. There was no way she would order the female’s death. Not for being passionate about Rhodack’s well-being.
No, but she’d exile her away from Rhodack and the lair. She eyed the woman and knew she’d never be safe with her around.
“Nielsen, take her and escort her out of my sight,” Vikuth snarled, tossing the woman to the ground.
The first guard moved past Rina and marched over to Avalena.
“You can’t keep him from me!” Avalena screamed, struggling against Nielsen when he picked her up by her arm. “When he returns, he’ll come for me, and you’ll be sorry!”
Rina felt pity in her chest watching Nielsen drag her off. She shook her head and caught Vikuth’s gaze.
He walked to her. “Let’s go.”
