Rose looked at me, her eyes large and shimmering with unshed tears. I saw her hand tremble. She was a Princess of the blood; she had never been asked to choose between her family and a stranger.
"Go on, Rose," I thought bitterly. "Save yourself. I'm not worth the fallout."
I couldn't watch it. I couldn't watch her suffer because of me, so I stepped forward, putting myself between her and the vipers.
"You can accuse me all you want. You can hurl insults and call me a murderer until your throats are sore. But when my mate reveals the truth—when he finds the person who actually did this—I hope you all have the dignity to apologize for this."
Lynn let out a harsh, jagged laugh. "Apologize? To you? I'd sooner burn in the sun."
"You're a parasite," Sloane spat, her face contorting. "A little murderer trying to play Queen. We'll see how long Kaeren can keep you when the Council demands your head."
