The porcelain shard sliced through the air with a deadly, whistling hiss. It flew past the Main Consort's ear, clipping a few strands of his perfectly oiled hair, and embedded itself nearly two inches deep into the solid mahogany pillar directly beside the Matriarch's head with a violent THWACK.
The Matriarch's hysterical screaming cut off instantly, replaced by a strangled, horrified gasp.
"Send one more dog after me," Heena said, her raspy voice echoing through the dead silence of the hall. She didn't yell. She didn't need to. The sheer, suffocating weight of her killing intent pressed down on the dais like a physical anvil. "And the next piece of porcelain goes directly through your throat. I promise you, Madam... your estate healers are not fast enough to stitch a severed artery."
The Matriarch collapsed back into her chair, clutching her throat, her face entirely devoid of blood. The Main Consort was openly weeping now, pressing his hands over his mouth in absolute terror.
