Chapter 14 · Dead Men Talk

Ethan's body hit the marble with a sound Vivian knew she'd hear in her sleep for the rest of her life.

If she lived that long.

Cyrus stepped over the blood pooling around her brother's throat like it was a puddle of rain. "Get him to the incinerator before dawn. I want the ashes scattered in the east garden by noon."

"No." Vivian's voice came out flat. Hollow. She was still on her knees, one hand on Ethan's chest. Still warm. Still— No. Not still anything. Not anymore.

Cyrus tilted his head. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." She looked up. Her face was wet but she didn't remember starting to cry. "You're not burning him."

"Mrs. Croft." Cyrus's smile didn't reach his eyes. Never did. "Your husband just executed a council fugitive on my authority. The body is evidence. Evidence gets destroyed. That's protocol."

"Protocol." Vivian tasted copper. She'd bitten her lip hard enough to bleed. "You mean a cover-up."

"Call it what you like." Cyrus gestured to the two guards by the door. "Take the body. Now."

They moved forward. Vivian didn't.

Lucas's hand closed around her wrist before she could do something stupid. Like throw herself at Cyrus.