Chapter 17 · Into the Soul Fire

The guard's arm was a wall across the door. "Trial chamber's sealed. Envoy's orders."

"I need to see him." My voice came out raw. I'd been arguing for ten minutes and getting nowhere. "I'm a witness. I can testify—"

"Chamber's sealed," he said again. Like I was stupid. Like I hadn't heard him the first four times.

I tried to push past. His other hand caught my shoulder, not rough but immovable. "Ma'am. Step back."

Ma'am. Not Lady Vey. The marriage contract was torn. I wasn't even nobility anymore.

Behind the iron-banded door I could hear voices, low and formal. The trial was starting. Rowan was in there and I was out here because he'd ripped us apart to save me.

I should've seen it. Should've known Sephra was aiming past me the whole time.

"Let me through." I grabbed the guard's sleeve. Desperation made my fingers clumsy. "Please. He took the blame for me. He shouldn't be in there alone—"

"Tribunal law." The guard's face didn't change. "Accused faces the fire with counsel or faces it alone. Lord Vale refused counsel."

Of course he did. Because a lawyer would ask questions and Rowan had secrets he'd die to keep.