“You are here for questioning,” Tyrn reminded him. “Not to ask the questions.”
Brahm squared his shoulders and looked toward Soravale’s seat. “Then ask me who Tessana Allisand saw dead that morning.”
Hugo shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I don’t understand.”
Brahm’s gaze turned toward mine and I jerked with the force of it. “Who did you see dead that morning? Which of your siblings?”
It felt as though a brick had been lodged in my throat. “I…”
“Answer the question girl,” Brahm bellowed. “Who was dead among your family?”
“My parents,” I choked out. I closed my eyes briefly and remembered the scene as vividly as if I were standing there now. “Both of my parents were dead. And around them, my brothers. Alesk and Erix were next to each other. And… and Benedict beside them.” I closed my eyes as fresh grief threatened to swallow me whole. “Even the baby, even Brayne was dead. My mother held him against her body, but both of their necks...”
This was the first time I let myself fully remember the scene, and now that I was focused, I realized something.
“But Katrinka was not there. My sister was not with them.”
Brahm nodded and his lips lifted in an expression of something like pride. He turned back to the council and explained. “Neither of the Allisand girls were with the royal family that morning. All of the boys were accounted for and both His Majesty and the Queen. But the girls were missing. The royal guard did not find Katrinka until later that day. Alive. She had been stuffed into a cabinet in the kitchen. She was crying and frightened, but very much alive.” A rumble moved through the room. I nearly collapsed. Brahm continued, “But we never found the eldest daughter. Tessana and the crown were missing. We scoured the realm and waited to hear from her captors. But demand for ransom never came.” Brahm’s focus fell on Tyrn. “I would have continued the search had I been allowed. I would still be searching for Tessana and the Crown of Nine had I been permitted to carry out my duties like I vowed. Instead, I was accused of crimes I did not commit. I was exiled from my post and this kingdom that I swore to protect. Tyrn demanded that the search for the princess be called off. He knew the crown could be found, and still he ended our efforts before any progress could be made!”
“Enough.” Tyrn growled, stretching out his legs lazily. “You are an anarchist, Brahm Havish. You have always been a troublemaker, but now you’ve gone too far. Take him away.” He sounded almost bored as he flicked his fingers at his guards. “Take him to the dungeons until he has pledged his loyalty to me. Until he recognizes he is the one who made me king after he failed to protect my sister and her husband.”
I barely heard Tyrn’s tirade. My sister was alive. Katrinka was alive. After all this time, after years and years of grieving her, she was alive!
The guards rushed forward to restrain Brahm as he fought and shouted his version of the truth. Hugo stood too, shouting at Tyrn and the guards.
Tyrn ignored both men and declared, “Conandra is over for today. We shall resume tomorrow morning when this audience and council has learned to restrain themselves properly.” Tyrn nodded toward Crenshaw and his meaty hand closed tightly around my arm.
“Had enough, princess?” he laughed in my ear. “Time to go back to your cell.”
I went willingly, even though he dragged me roughly behind him as if I struggled. I didn’t have it in me to fight him. My thoughts were still on Katrinka. If she was alive, where was she?
Why did no one know about her?
Why was she not on Elysia’s throne instead of Tyrn?
If my sister, thought to be the last remaining heir of the Allisand bloodline, was still alive, why did everyone think she was dead? Why had they transferred the bloodline to Tyrn when an Allisand still lived?
By the time Crenshaw tossed me in my room, I could do nothing but collapse on my bed. Shiksa hopped over and curled into me. It was her soft fur and gentle comfort that caused the floodgate of tears to rip open.
I wept for hours. Until I couldn’t see or think or do anything but remember everyone I loved, tears falling for the family whose deaths I’d been forced to relive all over again.
I wept for the sister I hadn’t known still lived. And even now, I didn’t know if I would ever see her again.
27
Matilda had to drag me from bed the next morning. My eyes were puffy from hours of crying. She took one look at me and cursed the daylight.
I wanted this crown more than ever. I felt like it was mine more than ever. And yet I could not bear the thought of facing the council another day.
What would they drag up from my memory today? What fresh horrors pulled from the pits of Denamon would they dangle in front of me now?
Would they taunt me with Katrinka?
Or accuse me of murdering my family again?
“I can’t do this,” I whispered to Matilda as she blended a powder under my eyes. She promised it would take away the dark circles and make me look less like a ghoul.
She paused her ministrations and settled her hands on my shoulders. “Tessana Allisand,” she said firmly. “That is your name isn’t it?”
My gaze snapped to hers. “It is.”
Something like humor danced in her eyes, but her expression remained stony. “I haven’t questioned you once since they told me who you are. I walked into your room and instantly saw a princess, an Allisand with her head tilted high and fire in her eyes. But the council needs to see that too. This entire kingdom must be convinced that you are who you say you are. And it’s not going to be witnesses that show
