The Governor licked his lips as if they’d suddenly gone dry. “You killed the queen?”

Kain’s large hand came up to rest on her shoulder, his protective aura wrapping more firmly around her at the other male’s shift in tone.

“Before she shows you, I must insist that you acknowledge the lack of deceit in her scent when she told you of Naharan’s betrayal.”

The other demon’s eyes didn’t stray from her face as he nodded. “I acknowledge your words as truth, Breeder.”

“Good. Selma?” Kain gave her shoulder another comforting squeeze and took a step away from her, undoubtedly ensuring she didn’t accidentally singe him with her less-than-reliable powers.

Selma bit her lip and concentrated, drawing her focus inward to that place the white light seemed to come from. As cautiously as she could, she pulled it out of her core and pressed it into her right hand. When she felt her arm hum with the vibrations of the unstable energy, she opened her palm, letting the power gather in a fizzing ball of light.

“By the stars!”

At the Governor’s outburst Selma closed her hand again, letting the energy evaporate harmlessly into the air. Exhaustion swept over her, and she sagged gratefully against Kain when he reached out and wrapped an arm around her. These powers would be a whole lot more convenient if they didn’t completely drain her.

“I told you, Maell. I told you there was something dangerous inside of them.” Kirigan’s voice resonated through the room from behind them, the same note of zealotry in it as when he had first seen her light. “The ancient texts more than hint at this.”

The Governor looked like he would have been pale as a sheet, had she been able to see his human disguise. Without a word, he slumped back down in his chair, his eyes still lingering on Selma, though he seemed to be looking straight through her.

“And the prisoner?” he finally asked after several minutes of silence.

“Our witness. She helped the prince along with several other females. She will testify to our claim when we speak to the Lords. Will you speak on our behalf as well, Governor?” Kain asked.

Maell nodded slowly, his eyes finally leaving Selma to settle on Kain. “I will attest to the truth of the Breeder’s story, and I will support your claim to the throne based on the treason and defeat of the Prince, Your Majesty.”

Kain straightened by her side, the subtle hint of power in his aura growing stronger. “Good. Then call the meeting—we have a war to prepare for.”

As Selma followed the demons through the wide hallways and listened to their deep voices discussing the politics of the coup, the magnitude of the entire affair finally set in.