General Thorne launched the formal investigation the morning after the funeral.
Every servant in the castle was summoned. Every guard. Every person who'd had any access to the royal wing on the night of the King's death.
The interrogations were thorough. Relentless. Thorne had loved Damian. Wanted justice. Would tear apart the entire kingdom to find the person responsible.
Selene watched from a distance. Hating herself. Hating that innocent people were being questioned. Hating that some would be arrested. Possibly tortured. All for a crime that hadn't actually been committed.
But she couldn't stop it. Couldn't reveal the truth. Not yet. Not until Alaric was completely exposed.
The first servant brought in was the one who'd prepared the wine that night. A young girl. Barely eighteen. Terrified.
"I didn't do anything!" she sobbed. "I just brought the wine from the cellar like I was told! I didn't poison it! I swear!"
