Lyren pov
Lyren Valerius stood at the window of what was his father's study…no, his study…and stared out at the city of Luminis. Three days had passed since the funeral preparations began, and still, the rage hadn't subsided.
Kaelen had escaped.
His hand clenched on the windowsill hard enough to make his knuckles white. The construct had been perfect. It should have brought back Kaelen's body, or at least his head. Instead, House Zephyr had interfered, spiriting away the fugitives before the city guards could arrive.
"You're going to crack the stone if you keep gripping it like that," Evalina said from behind him.
Lyren turned to face his mother. She sat in one of the high-backed chairs, looking more relaxed than she had in months. No tears marked her face, no grief shadowed her eyes. If anything, she looked pleased.
"House Zephyr is protecting him," Lyren said. "Aldwin has turned traitor to the council."
