The room was quiet again.
Then the door opened.
Everyone turned.
The Empress Dowager stepped in. Tall, graceful, dressed in deep silver silk, her hair was pinned with pearl ornaments.
Her face looked too smooth for her age, elegant, youthful, almost untouched by time.
Katherine stood by reflex. "Mother."
The Empress Dowager lifted a hand. "Save your bows. How is he?"
Her voice was cool, controlled. Almost emotionless but her eyes were uneasy.
She moved closer and stopped beside the bed. Her gaze lingered on her son's face, and her fingers curled slightly, her only sign of distress.
"What happened?" she asked.
Aidan answered, because Alaric didn't bother. "His Majesty collapsed. He was drugged. He will wake on his own."
The Empress Dowager inhaled sharply but kept her posture straight. "And the culprit?"
"The Architect," Alaric said shortly.
"Who?" She turned to him.
