Chapter 22 · The Crown That Killed Them

Seraphine's voice rang through the throne room like she was announcing my execution.

"—merely a vessel under the Bloodline Preservation Act. She holds no claim to title, property, or protection beyond what the contract requires."

I stood there with my hands on my stomach and felt the baby kick. Hard. Like she knew.

Dorian didn't move from his place beside the throne. His face was stone. The entire court watched me like I was something that crawled out of the crypt, and I guess to them I was. Human. Pregnant. Inconvenient.

Seraphine folded the parchment with the royal seal still burning gold on the wax. "The Regent has spoken. Prince Dorian's obligation is to the child alone. The mother is—"

"Enough." Edwin stepped forward from the physician's gallery. His voice cut across hers and I saw her jaw tighten. "You're reading a decree that's three hundred years old. That law was written for captured blood servants, not—"

"Not what?" Seraphine smiled. It was the kind of smile that made my skin crawl. "Not humans who trick their way into royal beds?"

I should've stayed quiet. I know I should've. But my mouth opened anyway.

"I didn't trick anyone.