Page 52 of Lost Heir
My mother smirked. “Is that so?”
I nodded.
“Very well. Then answer me this: where does this young woman come from?” she asked, as if she already knew the answer.
Her confidence made my frown deepen. “She comes from the Luminar Sea off the coast of Keldara.”
“No, Lyanna. I meanwherehas she come from most recently?”
My eyes widened at the implication. There was no way she knew or could have found out that Selene worked in a pleasure house. Not without someone telling her.
Selene sighed. “In the Central Plains, I resided in a pleasure house,” Selene relented. “I was sold into servitude by my father at the age of twelve. I’ve been at the Rose Petal Lounge since then.”
Silence encompassed the room before my mother scoffed and turned her attention to me. “And yet youdarebring a prostitute onto palace grounds?” she shouted.
My face bloomed an angry shade of red and I gritted my teeth. “She’s not a prostitute, she was a courtesan. But not anymore. And even if she was, why would that matter? She’s a good person and she’s helped me a lot in the last five years.”
“I don’t care if she’s the goddess herself!” my mother fumed. “She’s a danger to those in the palace. I want her out!”
“A danger?” I scoffed. “How?”
My mother’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open. “Doyoudarethe risk of her seducing Marcellus, or worse, your father?”
I felt sick to my stomach. I could only imagine how Selene felt hearing such shameful accusations being thrown her way. But I didn’t dare look at her. I was embarrassed to even face her.
The doors to the Grand Hall burst open before an announcement could be made. I whirled around to see Marcellus storming inside with a thunderous expression.
“Mother!” His eyes widened at the sight of me and Selene on our knees before the throne. “What are youdoing?”
“What should have been done days ago, Marcellus. Getting rid of the trash.” Our mother looked away dismissively.
“Who is in your ear?” Marcellus demanded.
Our mother gasped. “You think someone has fed me this information?”
“Yes!” Marcellus and I shouted in unison.
“Howdareyou!” she yelled as she stood from her throne. “My own childrendaredisrespect me, all for … all for a prostitute!”
Selene’s shoulders slumped and she lowered her head in shame. The sight of her like that only angered me further. This was all my fault. Since I arrived, I’d neglected her and wasn’t around to protect her. All because I was absorbed by Ronan’s presence.
Fueled by anger, I shot to my feet and balled my fists. “I don’t care what you say, Mother. The ruler of the Eastern palace isme, and I say Selene stays. And I won’t abide you calling a guest in my palace a prostitute!”
My mother’s eyes slowly widened. “You … you would defy me … forher?”
I raised my chin defiantly. “Yes.”
My mother stormed down the aisle toward me and lifted her hand to slap me, but before she could, my hand darted into the air and I seized the blood flowing through her veins.
She froze in place, and I couldn’t imagine her eyes growing any bigger. “Lyanna!” she gasped.
Marcellus turned to me with startled eyes. “Lyanna,” he whispered. “You can’t use your powers on our mother … She might be wrong, but … she’s still our mother!”
“I. Don’t. Care,” I gritted. “I’ve been on my own for the last ten years. I refuse to be controlled by anyone!” I tightened my hand into a fist and squeezed, watching as she crumbled to the marble floor.
“Lyanna!” Marcellus shouted and ran toward me, grabbing my fist and trying to open my hand. “This is ourmother!”
I relaxed my hand and Mother collapsed, gasping for air. When Marcellus gaped at me in shock, I knew I made a mistake. I went too far. Horrified, I glanced down at my hands and wondered what the hell had come over me.
