“Here’s your chance,” I said as I stood behind her. “Make a move, Claire. Please,” I growled and watched as she spun around, white as a ghost.
“You’re dead! They promised me you wouldn’t live through it!” she whispered shakily.
“They lied because they could. You, on the other hand are guilty of trying to kill an Heir and her unborn children,” I seethed the words out but kept my anger in check. I knew she could feel the hum of my power, as it was much like Ryder’s, and I could see her hair starting to rise with static from the magnitude of it.
“I…I…Ryder, please,” she spun around and fell to her knees at his feet. “I just wanted to be with you! You must understand that I did it for us, so we could finally be together!”
“I don’t think Synthia agrees, and your actions will not go unpunished. Treachery is punishable by years of the Traitor’s Punishment. Your smooth skin should make beautiful parchment,” he rumbled harshly.
I felt my own skin crawl as I remembered signing the skin parchment at Ryder’s club after he’d dragged me there to force my hand into signing his contract. It meant she’d be locked up, and skinned until he decided to release her.
“No, please, I’ll serve you! I’ll do anything for you!” she cried.
“Have some dignity, Claire,” I said as I stepped around her crumpled form to stand beside Ryder.
“Claire, I sentence you to the Traitor’s Punishment for the next ten thousand…”
“No,” I stopped Ryder and reached for his hand. “No,” I repeated louder and watched as light flickered in Claire’s eyes and she drew herself up to stand in front of us. Hatred shone from within her, and I could still hear her inner thoughts.
She thought me weak and too tenderhearted to allow her harm. Boy was she wrong.
“Then what shall my punishment be, Blood Princess,” she hissed angrily, not even bothering to hide her smug smile.
“Death,” I smiled coldly. “You committed treason against my King. That alone I could overlook and award you the punishment my King has chosen for you. However, you tried to kill my children, innocent babies who had done you no harm. For that you will die,” I spoke loudly so those in the assembly could hear.
“No!” Cornelius screamed as he sputtered to his daughter. “You have no proof!”
“On the contrary; we have enough proof to kill both of you if Synthia so wishes it,” Ryder growled and moved closer to me. “We know your daughter was under your instructions to kill Synthia, and you sent the Skin Walker, Dyson, to your daughter. He committed crimes against the Horde Kingdom in the belief that his sister would be returned, but Faolán’s already killed her. You knew that; you told Claire as much. You were working with your daughter to secure her place by my side and on the Queen’s throne. You are the one who promised her that she’d be my second choice, and why? I never led you to believe I was interested in your daughter, not beyond the need for sustenance.”
“You have no right!” Cornelius screamed as spittle left his mouth.
“I am your King! I have every right. Danu granted me the right when she chose me as Heir to the Horde. You, Cornelius, are guilty of high treason and I sentence you to the Traitor’s Punishment to begin tonight. You will be stripped of your lands, which shall be granted to your daughter Abiageal,” Ryder’s voice boomed out loudly, the hair on my neck stood up as he dished out the sentencing. “I concur with my consort’s recommendation and your daughter Claire, as foolish as she is for following, will pay for it with her life, here and now. I will not tolerate treachery from my own people, nor will we tolerate any attempt on our children’s lives. Claire, you are sentence to die by my blade,” he said as he pulled out a sword and looked to me for my agreement.