Zoe Thanatos(84)

“See to it that document reaches the Royal Archive.” Hector bowed his head in acknowledgement before turning and heading for the door. The Queen Mother turned towards the throne and smiled with satisfaction at Kyra. Her eyes darted quickly towards Evan before she made her way back up the throne and regained her seat. Evan looked to Thea and watched as she observed scene before her. She didn’t look one bit surprised. In fact she seemed to smile a little, as though everything was right on track. Thea kept her eyes on the Queen as she rose from her seat and climbed down the throne, walking to the very spot in front of Owyn where her mother had stood.

“You don’t look very surprised, dear,” she spoke to him.

“What’s to be surprised about? I’ve always known your true intentions, where your loyalty and your heart live.” Evan felt his cheeks burn under the gaze of his former lover’s now ex-husband.

“So you know what happens next then?”

“I do.” Owyn looked back to Kyra. “Your Highness.”

“I, Kyra Straton, Queen of Terra and of the original families, do hereby expropriate you of your royal rank and title from this time forward. You will renounce any associations of your title and make no attempt to pursue any privileges enjoyed by the royal family. Do you understand?”

“I do,” he acknowledged with a nod.

“Furthermore,” she continued, “as you will live the rest of your days removed of your royal title, so will you live them dissociated from the Straton family name. You will from this point be given the surname of Terra to distinguish you from any house association. Do you understand?”

Owyn’s skin paled but his expression remained. “I do.”

“Now as for the crimes you are accused of,” Kyra began again, pacing in small steps before him.

Evan’s attention was drawn away from the scene when he realized the Queen Mother had stood and crossed over the throne to him.

“A word, please,” she motioned to him. He stood and followed her down the pedestal and behind the throne, just out of earshot and visibility of the Queen and Crown Soldiers. She leaned in close to him, her golden eyes glinting with a smile. “I’m sure by now you’ve assessed why you’ve been summoned here for these proceedings?” she spoke softly.

If only. “Unfortunately, I haven’t.” He wasn’t comfortable being so close to her. She was the woman responsible for the demise of not only the Thanatos family, but also his. However indirect her responsibility was in the death of his parents he still blamed her. He knew better than to share those feelings with anyone. Still, he kept his anger and hatred sealed tight beneath his outer composure.

“I have been reliably informed that it was you who lead the way to Last City to retrieve the book and Owyn. You even accompanied Thea as she was being brought into the custody of the crown?”

His first instinct was to panic. After what he’d witnessed with the King he knew she would have no compunction about punishing him as well. However, he would not have been invited to sit at the Queen’s side if the intent was to punish him. He relaxed a little and nodded his head in acknowledgement.

She leaned in closer. “I’ve also been made aware of a special relationship you and my daughter have cultivated recently. She tells me you have been a trusted confidante and a very loyal companion to the Crown.” Evan had no doubt in his mind that ‘special relationship’ was a polite euphemism for the affair and it surprised him to see she wasn’t the least bit upset by the knowledge of it. Instead she looked rather pleased, even somewhat proud. As close as she stood he could see the delicate features of her face, the stark contrast they made against the severity of her slicked back blonde hair.

“Your Highness,” he began with hesitation.

“Please,” she interrupted. “Call me Korina.”

That did surprise him, so much so that he had to swallow hard to give himself a moment to recover. Every instinct told him not to address her so informally, but knew she would object otherwise. “Korina, I am deeply apologetic for any disrespect that may have been reflected in my actions.”

“Disrespect? No, Evander, you misunderstand me.” She looked rather amused. “As Queen my daughter is free to pursue any relationship she desires. I’m not so naive that I would expect her to remain faithful to a man she did not love.”

As much as he could maintain his composure, he could not keep his cheeks from burning beneath the assault of her words. He wasn’t embarrassed she knew, but felt a sense of shame that she would speak to him about it so openly. He kept quiet as she continued.