The door slammed open.

Adina flinched as the guards burst into the holding room where she was being kept. Her eyes widened with fear and panic.

"What's going on? What—" she gasped, backing into the wall as they grabbed her arms tightly.

"What are you doing? Please let me go," she asked, panicked, but no one replied to her. "Let me go! Please—how is he? How's the king?" she cried, struggling against their grip.

No answer.

"Please! He needs me—I didn't do anything!" Her voice cracked, raw and hoarse from all the screaming. "Just tell me if he's awake! Is he breathing?"

One of the guards scowled. "Save your breath, you're done for. Poisoner."

Her blood ran cold as all the fight drained out of her. "No. No—I didn't—!"

"Move."

They dragged her out of the room and through the halls. Servants peeked from behind doors, their faces twisted with fear, confusion, and disgust.

She saw Kora looking at her with shock, then the other burst out of the room, running after them. "Let her go!" She yelled, but it was of no use.

One of the guards paused in his steps and slapped her so hard she fell to her knees, her body jerking from the pain. "That's your last warning," he said gruffly.

Tears streamed down Adina's face as she was dragged out of the house. "Please, just let me see him. Tell me if he's breathing. Is he alive? Say something."

Her cries were of no use. It was almost as though these guards couldn't wait to have her dumped.

When they reached the stairs leading to the lower levels of the dungeon, Adina's heart sank.

Memories of her in the Crystal Moon dungeon flashed through her mind, and she thrashed in their hold, panicking.

"No, no, you can't—No! You can't do this—I didn't hurt him! I love him!" Tears were flowing down her cheeks now.

"You should've thought about that before poisoning his majesty," the guard spat out.

"Wait—please! I didn't—!"

She was shoved forward. Her knees hit the ground hard and bruised. The door slammed shut behind her, and a tear fell to the ground.

"Please…I can't poison him. I love him," she whispered brokenly, her shoulders shaking with the intensity of her tears.

_________

Carter sat at the head of the table, the entire council was present, the nobles were present. The beta was present too.

"We have all seen the unfortunate condition of our king. King Thorne requires immediate attention, and the healers are doing more than their best to bring his majesty back to us, but pending the time…we need to be strategic," his voice rang out through the hall.

"Speak clearly, Lord Carter. What has happened here today is very unfortunate, and we don't have the liberty of beating around the bush anymore."

Carter stood slowly, placing his hands on the long stone table, his eyes sweeping across the room.

"We do not have the luxury of denial," he began smoothly, his tone cold and composed. "Our enemies are watching. Waiting. They will hear of the king's collapse, and when they do, they will strike. We cannot afford chaos. Not now."

Caelum stiffened at his place by the side of the hall, jaw tight, fists clenched. His eyes burned with fury. "He hasn't even been unconscious for two hours," Caelum growled. "And you're already preparing to stab him in the back?"

"Do not question my loyalty to the king," Carter growled, the sound echoing through the room.

Caelum scoffed. "You sure do have a unique way of showing your loyalty," he snarled. Eyes red with fury as he looked at each one of them. "You all sit here in your robes, debating the future of the kingdom while your king lies unconscious. It hasn't even been two hours since his fall, and you all can't wait to replace him. The healers haven't even diagnosed him, and you will."

"It's black magic! Beta Caelum. Thessara said so with her own mouth. His majesty has been spelled, and not even they can cure it. They need to research. How long do we know that will take? A month? Two? A decade even. I'm only thinking of what is right to do. The king doesn't just govern Obsidian. He governs the entire realm. We do not have time on our hands, and thus we need to take a step," Carter paused.

"This is not betrayal, Beta. This is leadership. This is strategy. While we pray for the king's swift recovery, someone must lead."

Caelum scoffed yet again. "You mean you, I assume?" Caelum snapped.

A few of the nobles glanced between them nervously.

Carter's lips curved. "I have no desire to rule. I am merely doing what any wise head councilman should do. Protecting the realm is my number one priority, and right now…the realm is weak. The people cannot be left to wonder who holds the reins."

"The king appointed me his beta. I stand in his place when he cannot."

Carter glanced at him then looked away dismissively. "You are his beta, yes. A loyal one, no doubt. But a beta remains a beta. You were never chosen to lead. That crown was never meant for you."

Caelum's entire body tensed.

Carter turned, his voice rising ever so slightly. "Therefore, in accordance with council law and tradition, I, the head councilman of the realm, will now nominate an interim leader. Someone who has proven themselves capable, both in battle and in court. A woman who once served this realm with distinction."

The doors at the far end of the room opened.

Elara stepped in.

A collective gasp swept through the room.

Elara walked slowly, one would think she was in a drama. Her gown white as snow, as though she had it specially prepared for the moment. Her hair was braided back like it had been in her days as a general. Her eyes scanned the hall—so many faces she'd once known. So many who had abandoned her when she needed them.

She stopped at the center and bowed deeply.

"My lords. My ladies," she said softly, "It is an honor to return, though I had never hoped it would be under such painful circumstances."

"No." Caelum's voice was like thunder.

He took a step forward, practically shaking with rage. "No. You can't be serious!"

Elara looked at him calmly. "I assure you, I didn't ask for this."

"You were banished!" Caelum roared. "By the king himself! His last command! Are we to go against his very word while he lies in that bed?"

Carter's face remained passive. "The king banished Elara in a moment of emotion. Over the same woman who now sits in the dungeon accused of poisoning him."

"And you believe that proves her innocence?" Caelum spat. "Elara is manipulative. A liar. She's tried this once before—"

"Yet…the one who is accused of poisoning him has a track record of killing. After all, she once killed her former alpha's heir," Elara said calmly.

Caelum shook with rage. He was cornered. "You are not fit to lead. You can't. His majesty will never be in support."

"And you are?" she countered coolly. "You're Thorne's sword, Caelum. Not his voice."

Carter stepped between them. "This is not a discussion. A decision must be made. For the realm."

He turned to the rest of the councilmen and nobles. "We will take a vote."

"Elara was exiled," Caelum repeated, teeth gritted. "If any of you vote in her favor, you spit on the king's will."

Elara smiled. " His majesty asked that I return to the palace at once. He must've had an inkling. His last wish was for me to return to the palace. Do with that what you must."

"Let the voting begin."