“Those who were not found dead were found asleep or unconscious, draughts for the former, blows for the latter. The sergeant for this eve realized swiftly half the unit had not reported for duty at the changing of the guard. He sent warriors to discover why, and as you know, died on the palace steps, most likely on his way to Chu to raise the alarm.”

Mars kept pacing as he rapped out, “It’s my understanding the hour for the changing of the guard is modified daily so this exact occurrence would not happen.”

“It is,” Lorenz answered.

“So tonight’s hour was known to the assailants.”

“It was.”

Mars stopped moving abruptly and pinned his captain with dark eyes. “We have a traitor.”

Lorenz’s jaw was tight as he forced out, “We do.”

“Have they been worked?” Mars asked.

“They have.”

“Has the traitor been identified?”

“He has.”

“And?” Mars prompted

Lorenz hesitated but a moment to give his king a meaningful look.

But he did not speak.

Mars clearly read this meaningful look for his face turned to granite.

“He and the rest are being marched to the pits?” Mars queried through clenched teeth.

“They are,” Lorenz assured.

Mars seemed to realize then that True was with them and his gaze sliced his way.

“My sister?” he demanded of True.

“Your sister?” True asked in return.

“Farah,” Mars snarled, and True noticed Silence curling deeper into herself.

His attention returned to the king.

“My princess,” he corrected.

“Semantics,” Mars spat impatiently.

But True suspected he was less patient.

Farah in her state, Sofia gone, the attackers coming in through his cousin’s window, and his earlier thought proven untrue for it was a certain miracle Silence had survived.

Thus, he shared his impatience immediately.

“Absolutely fucking not semantics,” he bit out.

He sensed Silence’s, and everyone’s, attention sharpening on him, but he didn’t break eye contact with the Firenz king.

“I take it this means you’re finally claiming her in a way that matters,” Mars bit back.

“Do not try me, Your Grace,” True warned. “Not with my cousin sitting in a bloodstained nightgown in your chair with her neck black-and-blue and my future wife in her bed so deep in her mourning, she’s disavowed her country…both of them.”

A vein in Mars’s temple pulsed.

It took a moment before Mars declared quietly, “She will heal.”

“She will. Because I will see to it,” True returned. “In other words, Mars, she’s a bloody mess. She’s also not taking part in this procession.”

“As you’ve claimed her, that’s yours to decide,” Mars allowed.

“My cousin isn’t either,” True declared.

The atmosphere of the room became heavy.

He was surprised to hear his mother’s voice come first through the tense silence.

And he heard it when she simply said a warning, “True.”

True ignored her and kept his gaze to the Firenz king.