Emilia couldn't stop staring at the tiny mark beneath Queen Mother Alira's wrist.
It was barely noticeable, just a small puncture against her pale skin, but now that she'd seen it, she couldn't unsee it. The realization settled heavily in her stomach. Someone hadn't poisoned Alira by accident.
Someone had been close enough to her to hurt her repeatedly while she slept.
And that meant the poisoner had access to the Queen Mother's private quarters.
Emilia slowly lowered Alira's sleeve.
Across the room, Draven's gaze remained fixed on the mark.
For several seconds, he didn't move. His face had gone completely still, but Emilia could see the tension in his jaw and the way his fingers curled beside his thigh.
"How long?" he asked.
Emilia looked at him. "I don't know."
"Can you tell?"
