Mauve banners hung from the dome-shaped glass ceiling, bearing the golden Royal Crest, that of a crown of leaves with a sword striking through the center. It still reminded me of someone being stabbed in the head. Hold. Far fewer people milled about the Hall. My gaze traveled down the marble and limestone and over the gold veining. The crack in the floor was new, caused by Nyktos’s arrival when he saw what Tavius had been doing to me. Breathe out. I started to look at the statue of Kolis—
Nyktos’s hand curled around mine, sending a jolt of surprise through me. My gaze flew to him.
His head was tilted forward. “I believe I’ve found your stepsister.” He then gently squeezed my hand before releasing it.
Swallowing, I made myself look past the statue I’d been forced on my knees before as my stepbrother split my back open with a whip.
Two diamond and citrine thrones sat on the raised dais at the end of the Hall. Neither was draped in white or scattered with black roses to mourn their lost King.
The King I’d ultimately killed.
I winced, reminding myself that how I felt about that had more to do with the embers than with me.
The thrones were empty, but I saw Ezra. Suddenly, it was easier to breathe.
Ezra sat in a much less elaborate chair at the foot of the dais, her light brown hair swept up in a neat bun. There was no crown upon her head as she listened to a man across the table from her speak, one who leaned over a stack of parchment. The man’s clothing and posture screamed noble, and the angry flush to his olive skin warned that he was unhappy. Guards stood behind Ezra, two to her left and two to her right. They were dressed as those on the wall were: tunics, breeches, armor.
The corners of my lips turned up as I saw that Ezra, despite the humidity, wore a neatly tailored waistcoat minus any frills. My smile spread when I spotted the familiar tilt of her stubborn jaw as she responded to whatever the man was saying. I was sure it was keen, clever, and deliciously cutting.
“I believe she is hosting a town hall,” Nyktos commented.
Heart slowing, I nodded. That was exactly what Ezra was doing, and just as I’d imagined, she did not hold one from a throne or a balcony, far away from the people. She sat with them.
And she’d also opened the gates of Wayfair to them.
Nyktos’s head turned sharply. A guard slowly approached us, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
He stopped several feet from us, his throat bobbing. “The Queen is currently seeing the last of those who wish to speak with her today,” he said, and it pleased me to hear her referred to as Queen. “You may make an appointment to do so tomorrow by visiting the record keeper at the gatehouse.”
It also pleased me that what Ezra was doing appeared to be more than just holding a weekly or biweekly town hall.
“We cannot return tomorrow,” Nyktos spoke, and I swore the air chilled a bit. “We need to speak with the Queen today, and as soon as possible.”
The guard visibly paled as he stared into the shadowy recesses of Nyktos’s hood.
I cut the Primal a look and then stepped forward. “We do need to speak with her today,” I said, gentling my tone. “And I believe she will make time for us if you tell her that Sera is here to speak with her.”
The guard didn’t budge as his wide-eyed gaze bounced between Nyktos and me. I could sense that he was about to hold his ground.
“Go,” Nyktos urged, moving a foot closer in that quiet, unnatural way of his. He tilted his head back, letting the hood slip a few inches. “And speak with your Queen. Now.”
Whatever the guard heard or saw got him moving. He pivoted, hurrying off.
I turned to Nyktos. “Did you use compulsion?”
“No.” He laughed softly. “I think I just scared him.”
“Rude,” I murmured as I walked the secondary wall of pillars encircling the main floor and entered the private alcove furnished with settees and chairs.
He laughed again. “Perhaps.”
I snorted, scanning those in the Hall, telling myself that I wasn’t looking for one person in particular, but I didn’t see her, nonetheless. We neared the dais just in time to see the guard work up his nerve to interrupt his Queen. I saw the moment he spoke my name.
Ezra went rigid for a heartbeat and then shot to her feet, pressing a hand to her slender waist. The noble across from her hastily followed as she searched the floor. I waited, knowing Ezra would remember that I’d favored the alcove the few times I was in the Great Hall.
She took a step forward before turning sharply. When she spotted us, she stilled once more, likely in disbelief. But Ezra was not one prone to panic. She was logical and calm in all things, and she was then, as well.
Turning to the man, she excused herself. The noble wasn’t thrilled, but she turned her back on him anyway. She spoke to her guards, who scattered, quickly clearing the Great Hall, taking the noble with them.
Nyktos was quiet as Ezra approached us. The doors to the Hall closed, and only two guards remained, stationed in front of them.
Ezra halted at the top of the short set of steps. “Seraphena?” Her voice was barely a whisper as she glanced beside me. I saw her visibly swallow.
I stepped forward and lowered the hood of my cloak. “Ezra.”
She jerked, her eyes widening.
“Or should I say, Queen Ezmeria?” I added, bowing.
“Don’t you dare do that.” Ezra snapped forward, reaching for me but stopping short. “I’m Ezra. Just Ezra to you.”
A twinge of disappointment rose at the knowledge that she was still uncomfortable touching me, but as I straightened and saw that Nyktos had moved in closer, I realized her reaction might have had more to do with that.
“My gods, I thought the guard had misheard,” she said, glancing at Nyktos with wide brown eyes. “I didn’t think I’d ever…”
“See me again,” I finished, and she nodded. “Because I was supposed to kill this one?” I added, jerking my thumb at Nyktos.
“Nice,” Nyktos remarked dryly under his breath.
Blood drained rapidly from Ezra’s face, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of what I’d said or because Nyktos had lowered his hood.
Ezra clearly hadn’t forgotten what he looked like when she’d seen him last. “I think I need to sit down—” She caught herself before doing so, beginning to kneel. “I’m sorry, Your Highness. I—”
“That is unnecessary,” he interrupted. “Please, sit. We do not have long, and I fear you may pass out if you continue standing.”
Ezra blinked slowly. “I have never fainted.”
The Primal smiled, revealing just a hint of fang. “There is always a first time.”
“Please, sit,” I jumped in. “He’s right. We don’t have long, and there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
Ezra sat in the chair. “Is it the supposed-to-kill-him part?”
I choked on a laugh as I sat on the settee next to her chair. Nyktos crossed his arms, remaining standing. “It kind of is,” I said, glancing around the now-empty floor of the Great Hall. My gaze got caught on the statue of Kolis for a brief second. I swallowed. “I’m sure you have many questions.”
“Loads,” she murmured.
“As do I,” I went on. “But as I said, we cannot stay long, so I must get right to it.” I took a shallow breath, remembering what Nyktos had advised could and couldn’t be shared. “What we thought ended the Rot was wrong. The deal my ancestor made didn’t cause the Rot upon my birth.”
Ezra gripped the arm of the chair as she looked between us. “I don’t know much about deals, so please forgive my ignorance on the subject, but the deal expired once fulfilled?”