The throne room was crawling with vipers.
I felt their eyes on me the moment we walked through the doors. Nobles in their fine silks, their jewels glinting in the candlelight. They smiled at me like I was a child playing dress-up.
But I saw what lurked beneath those smiles. Contempt. Hunger. Ambition.
"Aria." A woman stepped forward. Lady Marcheline, I remembered. Her voice dripped with false warmth. "How wonderful to see you back. We were so worried."
"Were you?" I kept my voice flat. "I didn't notice any search parties."
Her smile faltered. "We assumed you had everything under control."
"We did." Kairos stepped forward, his presence filling the room. "The rift is still contained. The monsters are pushed back. What exactly were you worried about?"
Lady Marcheline's eyes darted to t
