“Perform an investigation,” Cass commanded. “We obviously can’t have guard or staff at the Bailey circumventing justice. If you discover her conspirator, we’ll deal with him, or her, then. Horatia will serve, in her current quarters, the sentence of a seditious soldier who defies the orders of a commanding officer. This is six months confinement then dismissal from service. As she’s not a member of my army, when she’s done with her confinement, she’ll simply be returned to her manor in the south. Done.”

Reginald dipped his chin. “Yes, my king.”

“Reg?”

“Yes, my king?”

“Bloody call me Cass, would you?”

Reginald smiled. “Yes…Cass.”

“Go home and celebrate,” he ordered.

“Righty ho.”

Reginald affected a cocky salute, turned and walked away.

Cass watched him, then he too turned, but he did not take that first step.

This was because Ellie was coming out of the red room.

She exited it only enough to step to the side of the door and lean her back there.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” she whispered.

She’d heard.

No.

She’d been listening.

“He will not be mourned,” he told her something he knew she knew.

“I’m not sorry for his loss, for he was horrid. I’m sorry you did not have a good father. I’m sorry his last command acted out on this earth proved that beyond all doubt. And I’m sorry because I know you, you’ll draw that in and allow it to harm you until me and Aelia and Dora can dig it out from where it never should be, for he is no part of you. You left him behind long, long ago.”

Cassius did nothing and said nothing but expel a deep breath.

“And her legacy is complete,” she said softly.

His gut burned as he stared at her.

“She is standing beside my mother and they are very proud of you, my king.”

“We agreed not to call each other such,” he growled.

“Just this once,” she whispered.

And he was upon her, pressing her against the wall of his bloody Citadel, in his bloody capital, in his bloody realm.

Kissing her.

Deeply.

The sound of Macrinus calling, “Fuck, Cass. Cass!” was the only reason he broke the embrace.

Both he and Elena looked down to the mouth of the hall where Mac was standing.

“Now…come…now!” Mac shouted, then he was away.

They hesitated long enough to glance at each other before they both jogged that way.

The entryway was vacant, but voices could be heard in the Great Hall, thus, they moved there.

A handsome, dark-skinned Mar-el woman lay back on a couch, gasping for air and appearing in pain.

Melisse sat on her arse on the floor as if she’d collapsed there, knees up, head and back bowed, forearms on her knees, deep breathing into her lap.