“I am not afraid.”

Kerris Dawn, A Lie

The only thing more fake than my wedding five days ago is today’s trial. The judge doesn’t consider any of my perfectly logical arguments nor the timeline I presented. My words have fallen on deaf ears ever since the blasted inspector handed over my blood-drenched gown. Worse still was the fact that they found a vial of deadly nightshade in the pocket.

The exact poison used to kill King Bandon.

Did I forget to mention that they pinned that crime on me too? There were witnesses who saw me at the castle gates, distressed and begging to see the king. None of them could say whether or not I made it inside, but what other reason would I have to request an audience if I wasn’t there to assassinate him?

I face my jury with my head high, Ronan and the queen watching from the balcony, their expressions giving none of their treachery away. Would this have happened if I had never crossed The Divide? Never pursued Ever? Had any of the romantic words Ronan once spoken to me been real? Had he ever truly aspired to share his life with me?

Had he cared for me at all?

It takes all of twenty minutes of deliberation for the judge to hand down a guilty verdict.

My sentence: Death by hanging.

My father sobs so loudly that his wails can probably be heard on the mountains of Gravale. What I wouldn’t give to be back there now, among the goats and peaks, all thoughts of husbands and betrayal eclipsed by burbling streams and trees to be climbed.

“They’re wrong. They must be wrong. My daughter would never kill anyone.” Father’s voice cracks as Theo leads him out of the courtroom. My brother casts me a sorrowful look from over his slumped shoulder. They both came to see me this morning, hoping for a proper resolution, believing that an innocent woman would never be put to death for such heinous crimes she did not commit.

I knew that this battle was lost before I stepped onto that platform. With Ronan on the throne and his wicked mother at the helm, there is nothing but darkness ahead.

I chose my side in this fight, and unfortunately, it wasn’t the winning one.

I’m brought back to the prison cell where I spent the last few days awaiting trial. The cell isn’t what I imagined it would be, with its fine mattress and single bedside table. There’s even a private privy. The view of the city far below is peaceful, serene, and Nolan has ensured that the guards on duty keep me well fed. He even stopped by with some of the tarts I liked from one of the cafés in the city.

I’m not under any illusions that he’s doing this for me.