Elara's Pov
My hands still shaking from adrenaline and rage, watching Kaelen rise to his feet with rope marks on his wrists and blood on his throat. The blade was gone. He was standing. But the damage was done, and everyone in this courtyard knew it. I was so pissed.
"So tell us your majesty. Where were you?"
Malakor's voice cut through the shocked silence. Not gentle. Not relieved. Angry. There was real anger in his tone, the kind I had rarely heard from him before.
I turned to face him. "I went riding."
"Riding." He said the word like it was an accusation. "Your Majesty, you disappeared during a state visit. During critical negotiations with a foreign king. King Thorin has been beside himself with worry. The entire palace has been searching for you. We thought you were dead or taken or–"
