[Ethan's POV]
For the next few days, Kaelen ran himself ragged, trying to scrape together the bail money for his mother and sister. But just as I'd predicted, not one of the four Great Law Guilds on the continent would touch his case. He was a pariah.
I was in an exclusive club in the Neutral Zone, finalizing a deal with a Stormcliff elder, when the door to our private room slid open. Seraphina. She glided in, dragging Kaelen Blackwood behind her like a prized pet. She was putting on a show of gentle concern for him, her voice a silken murmur.
"Don't drink so much. We'll find a way to help Adelina and Giselle," she cooed.
Kaelen looked at her with pathetic gratitude. "Seraphina, thank you. After what Giselle said about you, you're still willing to help her."
"Don't be silly. Giselle is your sister. I won't hold a grudge," she said, a perfect mask of magnanimity.
His Beta, Lucian, who was trailing them, chimed in. "See? This is why a gracious woman like Seraphina is so much better than a vindictive shrew like Elara."
Kaelen's brow furrowed. "Enough. Don't talk about Elara."
That was when Seraphina spotted me. Her eyes lit up. "Kaelen, look, it's Lord Ethan. Let's say hello. He's untouchable. If you can get him on your side, your problems are over."
Her uncle hurried to make the introductions. "Lord Ethan, this is the niece I was telling you about. Our Stormcliff Pack's very first female sky-rider."
The bootlickers in the room chimed in. "Lady Seraphina is truly remarkable!"
She basked in it. "You're too kind," she said with a show of humility. "I was just lucky to be the first."
"You were lucky, alright," I said, my voice cutting through the flattery. I looked directly at her. "I heard you were just a common warrior on a rescue mission near the Whispering River. Your commander was killed, you brought back the wounded, and got all the credit. That's how you became War Master. Your record didn't warrant a promotion that fast."
The color drained from her face. I'd had my people dig into her past. I wanted to know everything about the woman who had caused my Sis so much pain.
"But the Whispering River is crawling with Rogues," one of the sycophants interjected. "Lady Seraphina's courage is surely unmatched."
I let out a short, sharp laugh. "Then you haven't been looking in the right places."
Seraphina's chin lifted with defiance. "Lord Ethan, I may have been lucky, but not every female could have seized that opportunity and become War Master."
"So, being a War Master is that impressive?" I asked, my voice laced with mockery. "There were plenty of she-wolves in the elite training camps far more skilled than you. Before I met you, Lady Seraphina, I thought you were a true, self-made warrior. Now I see you're just another woman who thinks riding a griffin makes her a goddess."
I had seen a true warrior. A woman who rode a War-Branded Griffin through a storm of cannon fire to save her comrades, ready to sacrifice everything. Thinking of my Sis, a warmth spread through my chest.
Seraphina's face went from white to red. My words were a series of brutal, stinging slaps that silenced the entire room.
Kaelen finally broke the awkward silence. "Lord Ethan, a pleasure to meet you. I am Alpha Kaelen of the Blackwood Pack."
Seraphina's uncle quickly added, "Lord Ethan, Kaelen is the rising star of the eastern forests. His Pack has grown from nothing to its current size in just three years."
"I hope we have the opportunity to collaborate in the future," Kaelen said.
"Young talent?" I let out a derisive snort. "Elder, are you joking with me? A man who cheats on his mate is a 'young talent'?"
The mood in the room instantly soured. All eyes fell on Kaelen and Seraphina. The scandal from the Moon Goddess Gala was still fresh in everyone's minds. Their faces burned with shame.
"A misunderstanding, Lord Ethan. It was all a misunderstanding," the elder stammered.
"Yes, Seraphina and I are just friends," Kaelen added weakly.
"Some friends," I said, letting the words hang in the air. "I heard that while your mate stood alone to receive the Spirit Stones of the heroes who died for us all, you were playing nursemaid to your friend's mother over a splinter. That's not a misunderstanding. That's a choice."