The lightning came without warning.
A single blinding strike that drove straight down into the palace court, hitting the seat that had belonged to Valeria with a crack so violent it shook the entire building to its foundation. The thunder that followed was not distant. It was immediate and absolute, pressing against every wall simultaneously.
Every person in the palace jolted awake.
The same words moved through room after room in the dark.
"That thunder. It felt like it struck right beside me."
Roxanne's eyes opened.
She lay in the dark of Valeria's room, weak and pale, her gown still soaked through. But her hand was closed around the key.
She reached for the mindlink.
I have it.
Corrine moved immediately.
She crossed the corridor and knocked on Evelyn's door.
"Mi Lady. Are you awake?"
The door opened almost instantly. Evelyn stood in the frame, her hand at her chest.
"That thunder startled me half to death," she said.
"I was nearby and I could not simply go back to sleep knowing you were alone," Corrine said warmly. "Would you share some midnight snacks with me?"
"I will join you, I was thirsty anyway," Evelyn said. Roxanne stepped into the corridor, her eyes shifting to silver. "By silver and by soul I command all of you to drop unconscious." Every maid and guard in the corridor collapsed simultaneously without a sound. Corrine guided Evelyn past them as though nothing had happened. "Mi Lady, have you ever thought about taking revenge on Valeria? Truly?" Corrine asked as she poured the drink. "I have thought about it more times than I can count," Evelyn said. "But I never had the power or the forces to act on it." "What if both were given to you tonight?" Corrine asked. Evelyn looked at her. "I will not pretend otherwise. I would take it." "Then consider it granted," Corrine said. Evelyn barely had time to process the words before Roxanne appeared from Valeria's chambers, pale and bloodied, dagger in hand, her eyes glowing silver and cold. She stepped directly in front of Evelyn. "By silver and by soul I command you to take responsibility for what was done tonight. You killed Valeria. You carry this." The command landed. Evelyn's eyes went blank and she took the dagger from Roxanne's hand without resistance. She walked into Valeria's room, knelt beside the body and began to drive the blade into it repeatedly, accepting every wound as her own doing. Corrine turned to Roxanne. "We did it."
Vangelis ran his fingers gently through Fiona's hair as her eyes opened. "Good morning my love." "Good morning Vangy," she said softly. "I want to apologise for last night," he said. "I never should have let things go the way they did." "I am the one who should apologise," Fiona replied. "You did nothing wrong," he said simply and pressed his lips to her cheek.
Then the trumpet sounded.
One long clear note that cut through the morning stillness and brought every person in the palace to attention. Vangelis was already moving before the echo had settled. "Something has happened," he said. "I have to go." He kissed her once more, quick and certain. "Stay here and rest."
He walked out.
Soldiers lined the corridor leading to Valeria's room, caps held against their chests, heads bowed in silence. Vangelis walked through them without a word. Fiona followed quietly behind him. The moment he stepped inside and saw the covered shape on the floor his body staggered backward. He caught himself and straightened, then knelt slowly and reached for the veil. He pulled it back. The moment her face met his eyes he fell back entirely, the strength leaving him all at once. Fiona moved immediately, crouching behind him, pulling his head gently against her chest and holding him there. She looked up at the soldiers filling the doorway. "You may leave. Prepare the palace for an emergency meeting. Let the Duchess oversee the funeral arrangements." "Your Highness," one soldier said carefully, "the Duchess was also attacked last night. She is currently under the care of the palace physician." "You may all leave," Fiona said. The room emptied. Fiona's eyes softened as she felt Vangelis trembling against her, the grief moving through him in waves he could no longer contain. Tears fell without stopping. She held him tighter and said nothing for a long moment. "Cry," she said finally. "Cry everything you need to. I am right here."
The news reached every corner of the pack before the morning had fully settled. Everyone dressed in black without being told. People arrived from Redlunar and Silvermoon to pay their respects, filling the palace in quiet and solemn crowds. Valeria's body was dressed carefully, lilies covering her from chest to feet, white and fragrant against the stillness of her. She was placed on a bier, a ceremonial platform carried by hand, and brought to the entrance of the palace where all the nobles stood on both sides of the path with their heads bowed. Vangelis walked alone at the front, dressed in only a white shirt and loose trousers, his feet bare against the stone, three guards carrying the bier slowly behind him toward the Bloodmoon River. The walk was long and heavy and completely silent. Fiona followed behind him, her feet also bare, her loose black gown moving with each step, her braided hair resting over both shoulders, her ladies in waiting on either side of her. When they reached the bank of the river the bier was lowered gently. Lord Severian, the oldest noble of the palace and keeper of funeral rites, stepped forward and performed the final ceremony, his words low and ancient and carried by the wind across the water. When he finished Fiona knelt beside Vangelis. Together they reached for the bier and the pushed it slowly and gently into the river. As Valeria began to drift Fiona's mind filled without warning, memories arriving one after the other, Valeria's warmth, her voice, her hands, her smile, the porridge, the library, the kindness that was real even when everything around it was not. Tears came down Fiona's face without stopping. Valeria moved further from the bank, the lilies still white around her, the river receiving her quietly, until she was gone.