Page 92 of War Hour

Chapter 35

Shouting welcomes us when we open the capital doors. The culprits, Torryn and Sar, go quiet at the sight of Evander and I.

I’m sure we look a sight. My dress sleeve torn and soaked with blood from where the assassin managed to get in a swipe. Not to mention I’m limping along, supported by Evander.

Shifting where I stand, I drop my arm from around Evander’s neck to hide the limp from my hurt ankle.

I wouldn’t let them see me as weak and vulnerable. Not anymore.

Torryn sits on the marble steps, arms resting on his raised knees. His hair is more chaotic than usual, as if he has run his fingers through it a hundred times—a telling sign. When he looks at me, his face is blank, not revealing what’s beneath the surface, save for the hard set of his jaw. His crown lies discarded on the step near him.

Sar, on the other hand, lets every one of her emotions flicker across her face. Relief, followed by confusion, before morphing into concern. She stands in front of Torryn, hands on her hips as she looks at him, lips pursed. She glances between us as if waiting for one of us to be the first to speak.

It won’t be me.

Evander tenses next to me, and the hand wrapped around my waist tightens. Looking up at him, his eyes are locked onto Torryn, glaring daggers.

Sar sucks in a sharp breath when her eyes lower to the blood dripping down my arm and onto the floor. She rushes toward me, pulling my injury up to her face. “What happened?”

I pull out of her grip, taking a step back. My heart wrenches at the hurt expression passing over her face. In a split second, I decide not to tell them about the assassin. Even if I doubt they are connected to the attempt on my life, I still can’t look at them without feeling like a fool.

“It doesn’t matter,” I say, hoping she’ll drop it. “I’m fine.”

Before Sar can push the issue, Evander says, “What are you doing here?”

His question is open for anyone to answer, but his glare is directed toward the young lord of Self.

Torryn stands from his seat on the stairs, leaning against the railing. He doesn’t dignify Evander’s question with an answer. Merely crossing his arms in response.

Speaking louder now, Evander growls out, “Haven’t you done enough?”

Torryn looks up at the ceiling as if in disbelief, a sarcastic smile curling at his lips. “Becauseyou’vedone so much for her.” He lets out a cruel laugh before looking at me. “She knows who tried to save things during the hearing.”

“After you ruined them in the first place!” Evander yells, pointing at Torryn. “I at least tried to stop her from being executed.”

“AndItried to help her save her people—what she came here to do.”

“Well, that worked out well—didn’t it?” I ask, cutting off the fight building between the two men.

Torryn twists his lips between his teeth, staring at me. Not a sliver of remorse twinkles in his eyes, and I can’t help but wonder if Torryn even realizes what I’ve lost tonight.

Without breaking from Torryn’s gaze, I step away from Evander. “I’ll see you in the morning, Evander. Let me settle things here.”

He hesitates beside me, giving me a questioning look. I nod to signal that I’m sure, and he steps in the direction of the Court of Truth’s tower.

Evander out of the way, Sar turns to me with hopeful eyes. Like we are part of a team.

A part of me wishes there is some chance Sar had been unaware of the game Torryn had been playing. That like me, she too had been blind to Torryn’s ulterior motives. But I know that wish can’t be granted, regardless of what hopeful utterances I release into the universe.

“You and Torryn were both drugged during the Peace Ball,” Sar says as if expecting me to balk at her revelation. “I figured it out because you said Torryn was drunk. But hedoesn’t drink.”

I chance a look at Torryn, who shifts his feet.

Sar continues, “Ardis says you only took a sip of alcohol, nothing to make you act like you did last night before I took you back to your room.”

My eyes flick to her, searching for any sign of deceit. I hadn’t known Sar had extradited me from the situation. The memory is missing, along with most of how my night had ended.

“I already figured out someone drugged us,” I tell her, glancing at Torryn.

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