“Selwyn Kane injured two of our Mageguard and escaped custody.” Cestra lifts her chin. “Given his evasion to even answer simple questions about the events in the ogof y ddraig, I hereby strip Selwyn Kane of his title as Kingsmage and declare him an enemy of the Order and fugitive from justice.”

“No!” I shout.

A hundred eyes turn to me. Beside the Regents, William shakes his head urgently.

“Is there a concern from a Page about the military’s actions in this manner?” Cestra asks, brow raised and voice dripping with threat.

Lark stands, wrapping a hot hand around my elbow. “I apologize, Regent Cestra—”

Aldrich steps forward, waving a hand. “No, no, Page Douglas. Let Page…?” Aldrich trails off, tilting his head as if he’s uncertain as to my identity. The affected gesture lights my insides up, lifts the hair on the back of my neck. The second where a regular Page might fill in her name for him drags out because I am not a regular Page. The world narrows and narrows to this… this pretense that he doesn’t know exactly who I am—

‘Enough of this ruse!’

That voice again. Not mine.

I’d felt Arthur’s grief. Recognized it. That grief is gone now, with fury in its wake. I recognize that, too. Before-Bree, After-Bree, all over again.

I clench my teeth, stopping the next words from leaving my mouth with not a small amount of effort. I have kept Aldrich waiting, but if I speak now, I don’t know whose voice the crowd will hear.

William leaps up just in time. “Regent Aldrich, this is Page Briana Matthews.”

“Matthews, yes, of course! The Selected Squire-to-be of Nicholas Davis. My apologies!” Aldrich’s voice carries an added false note of surprise and recognition that only makes my teeth grind harder. “I understand that this may be difficult for you to hear, Page Matthews”—he turns to the rest of the Legendborn, then to the crowd—“difficult for you all to hear.” A low snarl begins at the back of my throat.

Lark pulls at my arm again, but I don’t budge.

With Arthur’s strength coursing through my veins, it will take more than a single Merlin to move me if I do not want to move. And right now, I do not want to move. I anchor my feet to the earth.

“Sel didn’t turn against anyone!” I shout.

“Thank you, Regent Aldrich, for this update!” Tor springs to her feet. She pitches her voice loud enough to hit the microphone and carry across the lawn, drowning me out. “It is difficult for us to hear, but we appreciate your being forthright with those of us who remain.”