Cassandra's POV
You're both under arrest for conspiracy to commit treason.
Commander Thorne's words echoed in the suddenly silent chamber.
Adrian's hand tightened on mine. On what grounds?
The Queen Regent has evidence you've been plotting against the Crown. Thorne's smile was vicious. Both of you. Together.
My mind raced. How did she know? We'd been so careful.
Unless someone had been watching us the entire time.
This is absurd, Adrian said coldly. We barely tolerate each other.
Really? Thorne gestured to our joined hands. You look quite comfortable together.
I yanked my hand away from Adrian's like I'd been burned.
He grabbed me when the bells rang, I said quickly. I was trying to pull free.
Of course. Thorne didn't believe me. You'll both come with us. The Queen wishes to question you personally.
Now? Adrian asked. In the middle of the night?
Her Majesty doesn't sleep when traitors threaten the kingdom. Thorne motioned to his guards. Take them.
Rough hands seized my arms. I fought the urge to struggle.
Stay calm. Think.
They separated us immediately. Adrian shot me one last look as they dragged him toward the door—a warning in his gray eyes.
Don't say anything. Don't trust anyone.
Then he was gone.
The guards hauled me through corridors toward the throne room. My heart hammered against my ribs.
This was it. The Queen was making her move.
But why arrest us now? What had changed?
The throne room doors opened.
Queen Isolde sat on the throne, beautiful and terrible in the candlelight. Around her stood her inner circle, Lord Victor, Lady Ashford, and others whose names I barely knew.
Helena stood at the Queen's right hand.
Of course.
Lady Cassandra, the Queen purred. Or should I say, Duchess Ravenshade? Though I doubt that title will last much longer.
Your Majesty. I forced myself to curtsy. There's been some mistake
No mistake. I have reports you and your husband have been meeting secretly. Plotting. Sharing information about matters that don't concern you. Her eyes glittered. Did you think I wouldn't notice?
We haven't been meeting, I lied. We can barely stand to be in the same room.
Then explain this. She held up a document.
My father's journal.
Ice flooded my veins. How did she get it?
Taken from your chambers tonight, Isolde continued. Such interesting reading. References to 'A.R.'—Adrian Ravenshade, I presume? Notes about investigating corruption together? She smiled. Sounds like conspiracy to me.
They'd searched my room. Stolen the journal while we were distracted with the king's death.
That journal is old, I said desperately. From before my father died. Before I even knew Lord Ravenshade.
Is it? The Queen opened to a page. This entry is dated three days ago. In your handwriting. 'Met with A.R. tonight. He showed me evidence the trial was forged. We need more proof before we act.'
My blood turned to ice.
I'd never written that entry.
Someone had forged it. Added pages to my father's journal to frame us.
I didn't write that, I said.
Of course you didn't. Isolde's voice dripped with false sympathy. You're innocent. Just like your father was innocent. Just like everyone claims to be innocent when caught.
Where's Adrian? Let me speak with him
Lord Ravenshade is being questioned separately. To ensure your stories match. She leaned forward. Or don't match, as the case may be.
A door opened behind the throne. Guards dragged Adrian in.
His face was bruised. Blood trickled from his split lip.
They'd beaten him.
Rage exploded in my chest. What did you do to him?
He resisted arrest, Thorne said calmly. We had to subdue him.
Adrian's eyes met mine. Despite the blood, despite the pain, they were sharp. Alert.
Telling me something.
Play along. Survive this.
Lord Ravenshade, the Queen said sweetly. Your wife claims she barely knows you. That you've never met privately. Is this true?
Adrian's jaw tightened. It's true. We maintain separate lives.
How sad. A marriage with no intimacy. Isolde stood, descending from the throne. But that's not what my spies report. They say you've been visiting her chambers. Spending hours together. Plotting against me.
Your spies are mistaken, Adrian said flatly.
Are they? She stopped in front of him. Tell me, my lord. Do you care for your wife at all?
The question hung in the air.
Adrian looked at me. Something flickered in his eyes.
No, he said coldly. She's a political necessity. Nothing more.
The words shouldn't have hurt. We were acting. Playing roles.
But something in my chest still twisted.
And you, Lady Cassandra? The Queen turned to me. Do you care for your husband?
I forced myself to meet Adrian's eyes. Saw the plea in them.
Lie. Save yourself.
I hate him, I said clearly. He killed my father. I'll hate him until the day I die.
Adrian's face remained perfectly blank. But I saw his hands clench.
Excellent! Isolde clapped. Such honest hatred. Such delicious misery. She circled us slowly. Then you won't mind my next announcement. Your marriage is hereby annulled.
My heart stopped. What?
Unconsummated, politically inconvenient, and clearly a failure. The Queen smiled. I'm dissolving it. Effective immediately.
You can't— Adrian started.
I can. The young king is dead. I am now absolute ruler. I can do whatever I want. She snapped her fingers. Take Lady Cassandra to the North Tower. She'll be confined there until we decide what to do with traitors' daughters.
And Lord Ravenshade? Thorne asked.
The dungeons. Let him think about his poor choices.
They were separating us. Putting us where we couldn't communicate. Couldn't plan.
Couldn't help each other.
Wait! I called out as guards grabbed me. My brother, Marcus what about him?
The Queen's smile widened. Your brother hanged an hour ago. For his role in your father's treason.
The world stopped.
Marcus. Dead.
No, I whispered. No, you said, you promised if I married
I promised he'd live as long as you behaved. Isolde's eyes were cold. You didn't behave. You plotted with your husband. You broke our agreement. She leaned close. Your brother's death is your fault, Cassandra. Remember that.
The words shattered something inside me.
Marcus was dead. My baby brother. Dead.
Because of me.
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Couldn't
She's lying, Adrian's voice cut through my panic. Marcus isn't dead. She's manipulating you.
Silence! Thorne struck him across the face.
Adrian spat blood. Check for yourself, Cassandra. Demand proof. She has none because he's alive.
Was he right? Or was this wishful thinking?
The Queen's face tightened. Take them both away. Now.
Guards hauled us toward separate doors.
Cassandra! Adrian shouted. Don't believe her! Marcus is alive! I have people watching him, he's alive!
Then we were separated. Different corridors. Different prisons.
Different fates.
One Week Later
The North Tower was cold. Isolated. I had one small room with a narrow window overlooking the courtyard.
For seven days, I'd had no contact with anyone except the silent guard who brought food.
No word about Marcus. No word about Adrian. No word about anything.
I didn't know if my brother was alive or dead.
Didn't know if Adrian was being tortured in the dungeons.
Didn't know if the Queen planned to execute us or keep us imprisoned forever.
All I could do was pace and plan and try not to go mad.
On the eighth day, the door opened.
Not the guard. Helena.
She carried a tray of food that actually smelled good—fresh bread, cheese, fruit.
I convinced them to let me visit, she said, setting the tray down. Thought you might want company.
I stared at her. You betrayed me.
I served my Queen. Helena sat gracefully. There's a difference.
Get out.
Not until you eat. You look terrible. She pushed the tray toward me. Come on, Cassandra. We used to be friends. Can't we talk like civilized people?
My stomach growled. I hadn't had decent food in days.
But I didn't trust her. Didn't trust anything.
How's married life? Helena asked, echoing our conversation from before. Oh wait—you're not married anymore. The annulment went through yesterday.
Not married. The words should have brought relief.
Instead, I felt strangely empty.
Lord Ravenshade didn't fight it, Helena continued. Signed the papers without argument. Guess he was eager to be rid of you. She paused. Though I heard he keeps asking about you. Wants to know if you're safe. Isn't that sweet?
My heart jumped. He's asking about me?
Every day, apparently. Drives his guards crazy. She smiled. Almost like he cares. But that's impossible, right? Since you both hate each other so much.
I didn't answer.
Helena stood, moving to the window. The Queen is planning something big. An announcement tomorrow. About traitors and justice and setting examples. She glanced back at me. I thought you should know. So you can prepare yourself.
Prepare for what?
Your execution, probably. Or your brother's. Or both. She said it casually. Like discussing the weather. The Queen likes public displays.
Rage burned through me. Marcus is alive?
Oh yes. Very much alive. Locked in the dungeons, actually. Right next to your ex-husband. Helena moved toward the door. Eat the food, Cassandra. You'll need your strength for whatever comes next.
She left, locking the door behind her.
I stared at the tray.
Marcus was alive. Adrian had been right.
And they were both in the dungeons. Together.
I grabbed the bread, suddenly ravenous. If the Queen was planning something tomorrow, I needed to be ready.
As I bit into it, something crinkled.
I pulled the bread apart.
A note, tucked inside. Written in Adrian's handwriting:
Library. Midnight. There's a passage from your tower to the East Wing. Behind the bookshelf in your room. I'm coming for you. Trust me. -A.
My hands shook.
Adrian was planning an escape.
Tonight.
I looked around my small room. Found the bookshelf against the far wall.
Pushed it.
It moved, revealing a dark passage beyond.
He'd found a way out. A way to reach me.
But was this real? Or another trap?
I clutched the note, mind racing.
Behind me, I heard footsteps in the passage.
Someone was coming.
I grabbed the only weapon I had, a fork from the tray, and pressed myself against the wall.
The footsteps grew louder.
A figure emerged from the darkness.
Tall. Broad-shouldered.
Adrian.
But something was wrong. He moved stiffly. His face was pale.
Cassandra, he gasped. Thank God. We don't have much time. The Queen—she's planning
He collapsed.
I caught him, barely keeping him upright.
That's when I saw it.
The knife buried in his back.
Blood soaked his shirt, spreading fast.
Adrian! I lowered him to the floor. What happened? Who did this?
He grabbed my hand, grip weak. Trap. It was... trap. They knew I'd come for you.
Stay with me. I'll get help
No time. He coughed, blood on his lips. Marcus. He's not in the dungeons. They moved him. To the... the...
His eyes rolled back.
Adrian! Where is Marcus? Where did they take him?
But he'd gone limp in my arms.
Not breathing.
No, no, no! I pressed my hands to the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. Don't you dare die! Adrian! Adrian, please!
Behind me, slow clapping echoed through the passage.
I spun.
The Queen Regent stepped out of the shadows, smiling.
How touching, Isolde said. You really do care for him. Despite all your protests. She tilted her head. Unfortunately, Lady Cassandra, this makes what comes next so much easier.
Guards poured from the passage. Surrounding me.
Arrest her, the Queen ordered. For murdering her husband.
I looked down at my hands.
Covered in Adrian's blood.
The knife, the weapon, lay beside him.
My fingerprints all over it.
I didn't, he was already
You killed Lord Ravenshade in a jealous rage, Isolde interrupted. The servants heard you fighting. Then he came here to reason with you and you stabbed him. A tragic end to a tragic marriage.
That's a lie!
Is it? She smiled. We have witnesses. Evidence. And a dead body. What do you have?
Nothing. I had nothing.
Adrian lay still on the ground, blood pooling around him.
And I was being framed for his murder.
The Queen leaned close. You wanted to know where your brother is? I'll tell you. He's already on a ship to the southern colonies. Being sold as a slave. You'll never see him again.
You monster
And you, my dear, will hang at dawn. For treason. For murder. For being foolish enough to love the wrong man. She straightened. Take her to the execution chamber. Let her spend her last hours contemplating her mistakes.
They dragged me away from Adrian's body.
Away from my last hope.
As the guards hauled me through the dark passages, I screamed his name.
But Adrian Ravenshade didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't answer.