"You know," Arienne said slowly, "the fact that Aelira came to you, came to us, asking if we could take care of the child…"
She frowned, then carefully lowered her legs from the chair. With visible effort, she pushed herself up to stand, steadying her balance before continuing.
"You rejected her."
Her voice didn't rise. It didn't need to.
"Even after she explained that she was only asking us to look after the child for a short while," Arienne went on. "Until her life was settled. Until the conflict within the Phoenix Clan had calmed down."
She looked straight at Severin.
"But instead of helping her," Arienne said coldly, "you suggested the fairies."
Lucian's fingers curled at his side.
"You told her it was the best place," Arienne continued. "The safest. That the fairies could hide the child better than anyone else."
Her gaze hardened.
"And now," she said quietly, "you stand here pretending this was never your idea."
The room fell silent.
