Page 161 of Fallen Nocturne

The throne room doors open before I can answer.

A wooden carriage rolls through them without a horse or driver, its wheels formed from twisted roots. Black thorns cover the bars, and pale symbols glow across every branch. Cedwyn walks beside it, though the ancient power burning in his eyes belongs to Thormein.

My gaze finds Rhianelle immediately.

She is inside with the others, pale with exhaustion but still kneeling beside Landon. Rainer is barely conscious, the black veins of Nevrin poison visible beneath his skin. Garrett stands near the bars, fury written across his face, while Shade and the wolf remain close to the wounded.

They are alive.

For now, that must be enough.

The carriage settles in the center of the throne room.

Lilith rests one hand possessively on my shoulder. “I knew Arescaine would come to his senses eventually.”

Rhianelle keeps one hand pressed over Landon’s chest as the last of her magic bleeds into him. Her gaze never lifts to Lilith. Never to me.

I tell myself that is better. If she looks at me now, if I see hatred in her eyes, this performance may end before it has properly begun.

Lilith pauses mid-taunt.

It is a small thing, Rhianelle’s refusal to acknowledge her. But my brother is quick to notice the wounded pride, especially when it belongs to the woman he worships.

Ruth turns his head toward Thormein. “Open it.”

The Aeonian hesitates.

Only for a heartbeat, but I see it. His eyes flick toward Rhianelle, and something like regret passes through them before Lilith’s silence forces his hand.

The branches part, and Ruth reaches inside, seizing Rhianelle before anyone can stop him.

Garrett shouts from behind the bars, his hands closing around the thorns until they draw blood. I feel his hatred when he looks at me. He believes I have betrayed them.

Good.

If Garrett believes it, perhaps Lilith does too.

Ruth drags Rhianelle against him and forces her into the steps of a dance. She does not cooperate. Her body is too exhausted, and her attention keeps returning to Landon inside the cage.

Wooden chains slide through the carriage, binding Garrett, Shade, Rainer, and the wolf against the bars. Landon is barely conscious, too broken to need restraints.

Lilith lowers herself into my lap. One arm curls around my shoulders while she presses herself against me, using the gesture as another weapon against Rhianelle.

I allow it.

Every beast inside me recoils. Coinneach seethes beneath my skin, waiting for my command, while Cyntefin burns hot enough that I feel fire gathering behind my ribs.

Rhianelle glances at us once.

Only once.

There is no rage in her face. Only a sadness so quiet it breaks something inside me.

Ruth sees it too.

He sees Lilith in my lap and Rhianelle refusing to break for him. His expression twists, and his grip tightens until she winces.

“You are not following the rhythm,” he tells her.