Under his breath, Apolloes muttered with grudging admiration: "Damn monster. She's become even more terrifying."
****
The massive Sun Doors recognized the Empress's approach and swung wide, revealing the throne chamber transformed into a court of imperial justice. The vast space hummed with tension as nobles, military commanders, and court officials filled the galleries, all eager to witness the fall of one of their own.
Duke Ephesians knelt in the center of the chamber, bound in blessed silver chains that suppressed all traces of enchantment and restrained the flow of his magic, ensuring no foreign will could seize his mind again. Gone were the elegant robes of his office, replaced by rough prison garb that emphasized his complete fall from grace. Without the demon's supernatural charisma enhancing his features, he appeared utterly transformed, hollow-cheeked and trembling, like a man awakening from a nightmare to find it was real.
