Chapter 28 · The Crown Coup

Drake's mouth opened. Nothing came out.

The throne's black eyes stayed on him, and my mother's voice kept coming, soft and patient like she was waiting for a kid to confess who broke the vase.

"Tell her," the throne said. "Tell Mara who put the blade in her father's back."

Drake's face went white. He took a step back, then another, his boot scraping stone. "I don't—I didn't—"

"You took his seat," the voice said. "You took his name off the council door. But you didn't hold the knife."

My core was still burning, the pull toward the throne so strong I could barely breathe. Ronan's claws dug into the stone floor in front of me, his whole body shaking, fur sprouting down his spine. He was losing it. I could see the wolf taking over, inch by inch.

But he didn't move.

"Ronan," I whispered. "You need to shift back."

"Not until you're safe," he growled, and his voice was barely human.

Nia made a small sound behind me. I wanted to turn, to check on her, but the throne's eyes were still on Drake and I couldn't look away.

"Who was it?" I asked.