Aria's POV
The champagne glass shattered against the marble floor.
I froze mid-laugh, watching golden liquid spread across pristine white stone like blood. Around me, three hundred guests fell silent. The orchestra's violins died with a screech.
Aria Silverthorn. Commander Thorne's voice cut through the ballroom like a blade. You're under arrest for fraud.
My heart stopped.
The main doors had crashed open. Twenty Council Guards flooded inside, silver weapons gleaming under crystal chandeliers. Commander Thorne stood at their center—tall, scarred, her face carved from stone and cruelty.
This couldn't be happening. Not tonight. Not at my engagement celebration.
There must be a mistake, I said, but my voice came out small and scared. I hated how weak I sounded.
Damon's hand tightened on mine. My fiancé—strong, handsome Damon with his warm brown eyes and gentle smile. He'd make this right. He'd tell them they were wrong.
No mistake. Thorne marched forward, boots echoing like thunder. She pulled out an official-looking document covered in red seals. Aria Silverthorn has been living a lie. She claims Beta rank, but evidence proves she's Omega-born.
Gasps erupted around me. Someone whispered Omega trash just loud enough to hear.
Heat flooded my face. That's not true!
Isn't it? Thorne thrust the paper toward my adoptive father, Lord Marcus Silverthorn. He stood near the gift table, his face turning purple with rage. Birth records don't lie. Your 'daughter' has been deceiving everyone for twenty-three years.
The room spun. This was insane. I was Beta-born. My parents died when I was a baby, but Father's family took me in. Raised me as their own. Gave me the Silverthorn name.
I looked at Father, desperate. Tell them. Tell them who I am!
Father's jaw worked. His hands clenched into fists. But he said nothing.
Cold dread settled in my stomach.
We found additional evidence in her quarters. Thorne snapped her fingers. Two guards dragged forward a wooden chest. They dumped it out. Papers scattered across the floor—documents with my handwriting, receipts, letters.
Forged birth certificates, Thorne announced, picking one up. Stolen official seals. Records of bribes paid to clerks to hide her real bloodline. She smiled, cruel and sharp. Quite the elaborate scheme.
I've never seen those before! My voice cracked. Someone planted them! This is a setup!
Everyone claims innocence, Thorne said, bored. But evidence doesn't lie.
The crowd murmured. Disapproving. Disgusted. People I'd known my whole life stared at me like I was something dirty they'd stepped in.
Damon. I grabbed his arm, desperate. Tell them. You know me. You know I wouldn't—
He pulled his arm free.
I stared at him. Damon?
His face was carefully blank. No anger. No surprise. Just... nothing. Like he was watching a stranger.
Damon, please.
I can't help you, Aria. His voice was flat. If the evidence says
The evidence is fake! I screamed. Tears burned my eyes. Someone set me up! Don't you care? We're getting married!
Were getting married, he corrected quietly. Too quietly. Like he'd practiced that line.
The world tilted sideways.
Ari... My stepsister Lyanna pushed through the crowd. Beautiful Lyanna with her golden hair and kind eyes. She looked like she'd been crying. Oh, Ari, I'm so sorry.
Relief crashed through me. Lyanna would help. She was my sister. My best friend. We'd shared everything since Father adopted me—secrets, clothes, dreams. She loved me.
Lyanna, tell them! I grabbed her hands. Tell them this is crazy!
Her lip trembled. Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. I can't. I... Ari, I tried to protect you. I really did. But I can't ignore what I found.
My blood turned to ice. What?
I'm the one who discovered the documents. Her voice broke. In your room, hidden under the floorboards. At first I thought someone else put them there. I wanted to believe it wasn't true. But then I found more evidence. And more. And I... She sobbed. I had to tell Father. I had to tell the Council. I couldn't let you keep lying.
The floor dropped out from under me.
You? I whispered. You did this to me?
I'm so sorry. She squeezed my hands like we were still friends. Like she wasn't destroying my life. But it's better this way. Better than living a lie forever.
I yanked my hands free. How could you?
Before she could answer, Supreme Councilor Matthias stood from his seat at the high table. He was ancient and powerful, with silver hair and eyes like chips of ice.
The evidence is clear. His voice carried across the silent ballroom. Aria Silverthorn—or whatever her real name is—has committed fraud against the Seven Territories. She falsified her rank, deceived a noble family, and attempted to marry above her station through lies and manipulation.
No! I tried to run, but guards grabbed my arms. Please! I didn't do anything!
Matthias ignored me. As Supreme Councilor, I hereby strip this woman of the Silverthorn name and all associated rights and privileges.
Father finally spoke. I disown her. His voice shook with rage. She is no daughter of mine. I want her removed from my sight.
Pain stabbed through my chest so sharp I couldn't breathe.
The sentence for rank fraud is exile, Matthias continued. She will be cast into the Forsaken Lands at dawn.
The Forsaken Lands. Where exiles went to die. Where rogues and monsters ruled. No one survived there.
You're sentencing me to death! I screamed.
I'm giving you what you deserve. Matthias's smile was colder than winter. Take her away.
Guards dragged me toward the doors. I fought, screaming, begging. The crowd parted like I carried plague.
Through blurred tears, I saw Lyanna watching me go. For just a second, her sad expression slipped.
She smiled.
Quick and triumphant and vicious, before the mask of grief snapped back into place.
Then Damon stepped up beside her. His hand found hers. Their fingers intertwined.
And I understood.
They'd planned this. Together. My fiancé and my sister had destroyed me.
Why? I choked out.
Lyanna leaned into Damon's shoulder. He kissed her temple, tender and familiar. Like they'd done this a thousand times before.
Like I'd never mattered at all.
Commander Thorne grabbed my hair and yanked my head back. One more sound and I'll cut out your tongue.
The last thing I saw before they dragged me into the darkness was Lyanna wearing my engagement ring.
The one Damon had given me just hours ago.