“Ignore it,” Elena whispered.

Ignore that?

Not on her life.

He turned to a Citadel guard. “Arrest Lord Felix Edgar of the Gairn Plain on suspicion of treason and making a threat against the person of the Princess Regent.”

“Do not!” Edgar shouted. “For you cannot! You have no evidence of this!”

“You were accused in my own throne room,” Cassius told him then looked to the back toward where his father was being led out. “Would you like to carry on? It would be most helpful.”

“To hell with you, Cassius Laird!” his father called from where he was nearly out the door. “I disown you!”

“Thank the gods, I am finally fatherless,” Cassius said loudly, and heard a few manly chuckles and nervous feminine twitters.

“Cass,” Elena said, standing steadfast and not allowing him to guide her to the end of the dais.

“Let us go,” he murmured.

“Cass!” she said his name more urgently.

He looked to her.

Then he aimed his attention where hers was and saw a Nadirii fighting to get through the crowd.

Elena had a number of Nadirii warriors with her.

This one he did not recognize.

In the end, it was his princess who led him from the dais in order to meet her Nadirii sister.

Jasmine and Hera stayed at her back, his men at their posts, which meant Mac was at his.

“What is it, Peg?” she asked when they made the Nadirii who Cassius noted looked travel worn.

“I…” the woman began, glanced at Cassius, then at Elena, “Well, my sister, I am here for your return message to our queen should your bird not make it.”

“My return message about what?” Elena asked, her voice reedy, her regard fixed on the female warrior. “I have not had a bird from mother in some time.”

The Nadirii appeared surprised.

Then concerned.

“We made Kilcree Break. We…” she trailed off to look about her before she said, “We should have privacy.”

Gods damn it.

Cassius communicated with his gaze to a variety of people before he started to lead his princess from the room.

“I demand to be released, Prince Cassius,” a male voice called angrily.

Cassius halted abruptly and looked to Lord Felix. “When your militia surrenders themselves to my army, and you, and they kneel allegiance to me and my regency, that will happen. Before then, you will enjoy the views from the Bailey.”

And with that, he pulled Ellie out of the room.

They were in the sitting room with the red cushions.

And Cassius had long since decided Elena was right.

Those cushions were a nice shock of color.

“Am I the only one who thinks they should have at it and leave a trail of blood and piles of bodies in their wake?” Mac asked the room at large.

“No,” Jazz replied.

“Yes,” Ian clipped.

Cassius sat in an armchair, pinching the bridge of his nose.