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A few arrogant laughs. More shields went up.
Cassia met her sister’s gaze. Solia nodded. It was time.
“Orthros is ready,” Lio promised.
“The Empire is at your side,” Kella said.
Solia drew a breath, too quiet for anyone but Cassia to hear. Then she rose to her feet.
“No man dares oppose you,” Solia declared, “but I do.”
Gasps and shocked murmurs greeted her words. The shields faltered.
Her purple train swept behind her as she lifted her banner with one strong arm and planted the Mage King’s emblem on the dais. Turning to face the assembly, she pulled away her veil. For the first time in fifteen years, the lords of Tenebra beheld their lost princess. Cassia felt as if she were seeing Solia for the first time all over again.
“I, Solia Basilinna, heir to the throne, demand that the Full Council of Free Lords acknowledge my right to rule.”
The room erupted. Shouts, prayers, people leaping to their feet. Flavian called for order, but they ignored him.
“My lords,” Solia cried above the din, in a voice that would surely reach the highest row of seats in the Empress’s arena. “I will hear your questions about my return—but ask with decorum befitting this exalted hall.”
Silence fell.
A lord with wavy blond hair rose from one of the back rows. Trust Lord Adrogan to present the first irreverent question. The bitter second son only cared about lining his pockets. “With all due respect, no one has seen Princess Solia in fifteen years. How do we know this is even her?”
Cassia surged to her feet. It was a mistake. She would have toppled over, if not for Lio’s levitation spell and his thelemancy calming her dizziness. She felt his power hum through her, bracing.
“I know my own sister!” Cassia cried. “Show some respect to your queen.”
Another chair creaked. Aging but fit, Lord Gaius rose to his feet. The gray-haired lord had been Lord Hadrian’s representative at the Solstice Summit—and dislocated Lord Adrogan’s shoulder for dishonoring Solia’s memory. “My sons died at Castra Roborra trying to rescue our princess. I know her.” Though a hardened warrior, his voice grew thick with emotion. “Their sacrifices were not in vain.”
Lord Severin rose from his chair. “I was there the night we opened the royal crypt and found Princess Solia’s tomb empty, although we never dared hope it meant she was alive.”
“Do more than hope now,” Solia said. “See with your own eyes. Hear the testament of my Imperial allies who harbored me, the Hesperines who brought me back to you—and my beloved sister, who did not rest until she found me.”
With Lio and Kella, Cassia gave her account to the Council. Once, she had revealed what she believed about Solia’s murder to them and secured their faith in her sister’s legend. Now she amended the record and prayed they would trust the truth.
Lord Gaius was the first to bow. Then Severin. Then the gesture swept through the hall, until every person there bowed or curtsied before Solia.
And then the shields came down, one by one, as quickly as they had been raised. Flavian’s face was hard, although not surprised.
Solia had won tonight. But this was only the first round. They were in for a long battle.
The edges of Cassia’s vision hazed. Oh, no. She could not collapse. Not now. Her control over her own senses began to slip, even as Lio’s power surged into her again.
She was losing her grip on everything. Especially herself.
Would the mages sense the current of magic between them? Would her physical response to Lio’s nearness betray their secret?
They had to escape. Now.
THE SHORTEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR
Tuura put a supportive arm under Cassia’s. “Ambassador Cassia is not well. I shall take her back to our chamber.”
“No.” Cassia was alarmed at how weak her voice sounded. “The rest of the Council…”
Solia touched her cheek. “You’ve done your part. Go.”
