Thessa paused for a heartbeat before giving a small smile. "As you wish, Your Majesty."
In silence, she began the setup: cleansing Luna's arm, prepping the needle, carefully threading the tubing. The blood flowed into the queen's veins. It wasn't legal. But it was necessary.
*****
By morning, the entire city seemed to hum with a brittle tension, as if Blood City itself were holding its breath. Word had already spread—Queen Luna was to appear before the court.
Flanked by Doctor Thessa, Luna walked the corridor of the judicial wing with the grace of a queen who knew her enemies were watching. She wore a purple gown, her shoulders bare, her crown a delicate circlet.
She was exhausted—her body ached, her soul frayed—but she would let no one see that. Not today.
The morning had already frayed her nerves with a searing argument with Damien. He had pleaded with her, begged, to let him take the fall. To be the one to face the court. To shield her. As he always did.
