Page 82 of War Hour

Sar’s face darkens, looking at Torryn with a searching gaze. She shakes her head before glaring at me. “That’s not possible.”

I huff out an irritated laugh. “I assure you it is. He just accidentally outted one of his powers to me.”

“No, Lysta. It’s not possible. Torryndoesn’tdrink.”

Torryn rubs his thumb across his lower lip, wincing and groaning. “You lied, Lysta. It did hurt.” At the sight of Sar, his eyes widen before he shouts her name.

I turn to Sar, gesturing at Torryn pointedly. “You were saying?” I chance one last look at Torryn before slipping out the door back into the ball.

Chapter 31

Consciousness is fleeting come morning despite how much I battle the drugged like drowsiness. In the lulls between nightmares, at my closest to being awake, I remember I’m supposed to be somewhere. That I shouldn’t be wrapped up in bed with the sun beating on me through the windows.

But the call to sleep beckons me into its embrace, pulling me further into the endless chasm of nothingness.

Awareness returns to me as a splitting ache bisects my brain. Pressing my fingertips to my forehead, I try to relieve the pressure built in my head to no avail.

Something is wrong. And someone is pounding at my door.

Groaning into my pillow, I ignore the sound until it breaks through my half-conscious state. The room spins as I sit up. Bracing my head against the heel of my hand, I close my eyes to ease the sensation. I have no such luck because, as I stand from the bed, my room tilts sideways.

Trying to remember how my night ended, I catch swirls of memories that don’t make any sense. Like a heavy fog has settled in my mind, clouding me from remembering things clearly. I hadn’t drunk any alcohol, other than the one sip by accident.Ardis had pointed out a safe drink for the night, and I had stuck to it.

Something is wrong, and the banging won’t stop—inside my head and on the door.

It isn’t until I look out the window, noting the sun’s high position in the sky that I remember the judgment hearing. Hopping into action, I flitter around the room, tossing on the first clothes I find. When my name accompanies the next round of pounding, I throw open the door.

Evander stands with flushed cheeks and wide eyes. He pants and gestures down the hall. “Just ran—from meeting—you’re late.” His words come out raspy. “Lord Drytas. He’s here.”

“Lysta,you’ve deigned to grace us with your presence,” Drytas says from his seat at the table. “At last.”

His tone bites like a lethal strike.

How late am I? Have I missed my chance to say my piece?

My racing heart stammers in my chest, as if it clenched alongside my fists at the sight of Valor’s reigning ruler. It doesn’t matter that I knew I would face Drytas once again. I still feel a chill move down my spine at his crooked smile.

When Drytas leans back in his chair, opening his arms wide to gesture to the group, I try to pull my gaze from him. But his eyes crackle with excitement and anticipation. He can’t hide how he takes pleasure in this moment. He turns to the rest of the table. “I can only apologize for any inconvenience Lysta’s presence here may have caused... or herlies.”

“I have lied about nothing—”I start to say, eyes searching, pleading, with those sitting at the table.

“You have not been given permission to speak!” Lord Bralas growls from further down the table. “Considering the allegations you have made against your lord, I’d have imagined today would be a priority for you. If we were in as much danger as you claim.”

My face burns at Lord Bralas’s insinuation, and I open my mouth to argue, to explain.

But Lord Gennady catches my eye from the end of the table where he gives two quick shakes of his head.

Fight the battles you can win. End the battles you can’t.

At least I still have an ally among the group. I bite my tongue. Maybe now is not the moment to stand against the two lords, but Iwillsay my piece before this hearing finishes.

Drytas looks me up and down with a sneer. “You should be ashamed of yourself. Betraying your own court. You treasonous—”

“What did you just say to her?”Torryn growls from behind me.

Looking over my shoulder, I can’t help but let out a deep breath at the sight of Torryn behind me, Evander a few steps behind him.

Evander went to get Torryn after me. If it were any other moment, I would have allowed the smile threatening to curl my lips. Evander had helped Torryn—retrieving someone he didn’t even trust. Because he knew I needed him.

---