Princess Avaline stepped forward before he could answer. Her curtsy was flawless, her tone graceful, sweet as honey. "On our journey back to the capital, we were ambushed and outnumbered by bandits. My guards and Duke Cedric fought desperately to protect me… while Lord Rhaegal was elsewhere. He was far more concerned with a human servant than with my life."
Murmur rippled through the court. Duke Cedric's eyes flicked toward Rhaegal in carefully veiled surprise. Both lords marveled at her accusation, but neither spoke. To challenge a princess's words so directly would be to invite disaster and Rhaegal knew there was nothing he could do now to escape the princess's clutch.
Avaline let her gaze drift to the nobles as though she grieved the truth she was forced to speak. Her lips curved, faintly, and she pressed on. "Not only did he abandon his duty, but when that servant was wounded, Lord Rhaegal drank directly from his wrist.
The words struck like lightning.
