“I didn’t, until Basil came up but moments before you came out and summoned you to Mars’s study.”

“Aramus will not allow Ha-Lah to take part in it,” True guessed. “I wish to ask her to sit with Farah until I can return to her.”

“Ha-Lah is not leaving Aramus,” Alfie replied.

True looked to his man. “He can’t possibly—”

“They had a guard under their window. Catedrais was killed in the attack.”

This stood to reason. The assailants had breached the palace through the windows. And there had been a great number of them.

He thought it had been a miracle that all on their side had survived.

But True had learned a long time ago that miracles didn’t happen.

Especially in battle.

“Bloody hell,” True muttered, turning to walk down the stairs.

“The Mar-el are as us,” Alfie continued. “As brothers. Aramus is not in a good state, losing his man. His wife is remaining close.”

“And Mars?” True asked, now jogging down the stairs, Alfie doing the same.

“I do not know.”

“Silence?” True went on.

“I do not know that either, though Luther shared, as far as he’s heard, she’s not left Mars’s side,” Alfie told him as they made the first-floor landing.

“Has not left his side or he has not let her away from his side?” True inquired.

“The latter,” Alfie answered.

“Bloody hell,” True repeated.

They spoke no more as they made their way to Mars’s study.

Basil and Kyril stood outside it.

But the hall, both the east and west corridors, was laden with Firenz warriors as well as those from Airen, Wodell and the Nadirii.

Basil opened the door for them and True walked through while Alfie remained behind.

Only for True to stop dead.

Silence sat in Mars’s chair behind his desk. She was curled into herself, thighs to her chest, arms around her calves.

And she was still wearing her nightgown, which was stained thoroughly with dried blood. So much so, only streaks of white could be seen through the rust. There was dried blood on her arms. In fact, the only bit of her that had been cleaned was her face.

And her neck, which was mottled an angry purple with bruising.

At the sight, True felt his heart begin to race, his blood heating in his veins.

Mars was behind her, pacing, his angry energy almost a physical thing in the room.

All the others were there. King Aramus and Queen Ha-Lah. Prince Cassius and Princess Elena. Queen Ophelia and Princess Serena. Queen Elpis. King Gallienus. Select members of each guard. And a variety of barons of Firenz clans and chieftains of Firenz tribes.

True’s parents, King Wilmer and Queen Mercy, were also there.

But True was pleased to see his father’s counsellor, Carrington, was not.

Lorenz, the captain of Mars’s Trusted, was standing in front of his king’s desk, reporting.