Chapter 25 · The Ash Seat

The council chamber smelled like old money and older blood.

Vivian stood at the entrance, Damian leaning against her shoulder. He was still weak, still pale, but he was breathing. That was enough. Behind them, Lucas walked three steps back, hands loose at his sides. No chains yet. That would come later.

The high seat was empty.

Cyrus's seat.

She let herself look at it. Black marble, carved with runes that looked like screaming mouths if you stared long enough. Three years ago, her mother had stood in this room and demanded answers about the land seizures. Three years ago, Cyrus had smiled and said the law was the law.

Now his seat was ash.

Literally.

The marble had cracked down the middle, and where the cushion used to be, there was nothing but a pile of gray dust. Someone had tried to sweep it, but the marks were still there, long streaks across the floor like claw marks.

"Ashcroft." The voice came from the left gallery. Vivian didn't need to look to know it was Eliza Vaughn, perched on the railing like a crow on a fence post. "Didn't think you'd actually show.