"Did your soulmate, Aleksandr Semenov, attempt to harm my son Dain Sundamar, or his soulmate Leah Escarra?" The Queen's voice had gone almost bored, with a lazy tone to the question.

The fae woman didn't speak, her hands visibly trembling. She said nothing, her mouth a flat line, proclaiming her soulmate's guilt without saying the word.

She cared more for his life than hers, I thought. Far, far more. I watched a single tear track down her cheek and fall to spatter on the floor. She couldn't lie and save him, but she couldn't bring herself to say the word that would kill him, either.

"You have admitted to attempting to harm the crown prince or his soulmate, which are both capital offenses, and your silence condemns your soulmate. I pass your sentencing to my son," the Queen said, her voice placid. She looked away from the two would-be assassins, turning her face towards Dain. "There is no force that drives a creature to madness like vengeance," she said, sounding bitter, her eyes glittering as I turned to look at her. "Never trust in the mercy of the gods. If you try to kill a monster, make sure you succeed."

Dain stood from his throne, still growling. I suspected he might not be capable of stopping, rage running through his veins. I knew the terror had all been for me, and I knew the rage was for me, too. He'd survived many attempts on his life, but an attempt on my life? It was intolerable for him. He would have executed them for trying to kill him, anyway, but I thought that it would have been impersonal for him. This wasn't impersonal, though. He was furious, as he moved with coiled control, stepping down off the dais and walking to the two archers.

I liked it, I decided. The protectiveness, the possessiveness. I liked that the thought of someone hurting me filled him with implacable fury. I felt the same way about him. But I didn't like watching this—seeing him go after them with murderous intent. My legs started trembling from the strain of holding myself in place, and I couldn't make myself relax them.

He stopped in front of the man, Aleksandr. "What do you have to say for yourself?" Dain asked, his voice rolling with the sound of his growl.

Aleksandr looked into the face of the Beast of Phazikai and did not flinch. "We had family in Phazikai," he spat. "You're a monster and a murderer, and you deserve to die."