Page 241 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

My hierarchy.

My people. And soon, they would realize it. Even if it took a motherfucking spectacle to get there.

As we approached the royal dais, I glanced sideways and spotted Nix beside his father, that cocky smirk just begging me to knock it off his face. Juno wore a mask of indifference, but his eyes held the weight of a father who knew his son was on thin ice.

Carr and I bowed to my parents, who silently nodded before we moved to our places—me standing beside Cali, Carr two steps behind and to my right. Once we were hidden behind the seated front row, I adjusted my jacket sleeves, ensuring they covered my new ink.

The doors swung shut behind us with a kind of finality fit for a colosseum. My mother sighed, then cleared her throat.

“We are gathered today in evaluation of two accusations of violations of the Accords.”

A murmur rippled through the gathered witnesses. Cali’s fingers found mine at our sides, hidden behind the council chairs. I gave her a reassuring squeeze but kept my eyes forward, trying to embody the prince our people deserved. Mother cleared her throat again, like the words physically hurt. I’d love to see that emotion actually directed into giving a shit about us when we weren’t on trial, but I guess a flicker of distress was better than nothing.

“Captain Nix Landry, please present your claim to the council.”

He rose, turning over his shoulder to smirk at me, arrogance etched into every step as he swaggered to the raised platform at the center of the broken circle.

That shit-eating grin stretched as he lifted his chin. “I accuse Cyrus Stuart of fraternizing with an enemy of the Crown, harboring a threat to the hierarchy, and allowing that enemy to infiltrate our ranks, thus endangering us all.” He turned toward the council, brow furrowed in righteous anger. At least the bastard meant what he fucking said. There was no hesitation in his claims, though I’m sure watching me fall would be his idea of a wet dream. “Our so-called prince brought a Grayshellian spy into your inner sanctum. This isn’t just treason—it’s betrayal of our brotherhood. A desecration of the laws I have sworn to uphold.”

He crossed his wrists over his right shoulder and bowed his head in a Paladin salute. A low ripple of unease passed through the room.

Mother’s jaw flexed, knuckles white on the arms of her throne. “Cyrus Stuart, you’ve been called to the platform.”

I turned to Cali. Our eyes locked a beat before she gave the slightest nod of dismissal. I almost smiled.

I fucking loved my sister.

When I stepped onto the stage, a hush fell. I circled slowly, head high, cataloging the faces around me. Who looked outraged? Who looked uncertain? Who might be swayed? I found a pair of wide, uneasy eyes and dipped my head, offering a reassuring smile.

“I assure you, the integrity of our ranks remains intact. I’ve done nothing but uphold our laws. Yes, Freya Porter hails from Grayshell—but prior to her ascension, she fought under the Paladin banner.” My eyes met my mother’s. She’d already molded her expression into a wrathful mask. She’d absolutely rip me a new one later. “Freya entered a petition under the Accord of Oath⁠—”

“That’s a lie!” Nix snarled, turning sharply to face me.

I slid my hands into my pockets to avoid fisting them. “—which, as you know, protects all souls seeking to complete the Crucible, regardless of origin. To harm her would be a direct violation of the Knight’s Accord.”

“I object!” Nix shouted, flinging a hand toward Ma. “Section Four, Code Three, Point Four of the Knight’s Accord clearly states that any soul seeking a Crucible must present their petition to an acting royal. Your Majesty, did you authorize Freya’s petition without notifying the Wings?”

“No,” Ma replied coolly. Her eyes cut briefly to mine—sharp and clear. A warning. Get your shit together.

“If our queen didn’t allow the petition, then who did?” he demanded triumphantly, glaring in my direction.

“I did,” Calypso said calmly, standing beside our mother.

It took every ounce of self-control not to grin up at her, to keep my face schooled into the same indifference modeled so perfectly by our parents across from me. She turned to Carr, tipping her chin in silent command, and he rounded the dais with the paperwork to prove it. Paperwork she had happily signed—and predated by a calendar week to match the day our parents were absent. Jo had cast the charm to dry and age the ink just enough to make it convincing.

“An heiress-apparent acting as regent in the absence of the Queen has the authority to sign a petition.”

Another wave of murmuring unrest swept through the onlookers, their gazes shifting between the three of us as Calypso raised her head.

“While Nix claims to defend our hierarchy, he violated the very laws he swore to protect when he disobeyed a royal command, harmed a petitioner protected by the Accord of the Oath, and fired a reaper’s bullet—a weapon I designed, reserved for enemies of the Balance—outside our territory. This is after a prior violation of the treaty dividing us from Bellaton. If treason lies anywhere, it’s with the Captain.”

Voices of agreement echoed across the chamber. Our people knew what Calypso was studying. Knew the cruel death the reaper’s bullet inflicted. And to use it on a petitioner protected by the Accord?

My cousin wouldn’t walk away with his Wings—if he kept his head.

Some dim corner of me flinched at the idea of spilling his blood, but the image of Freya writhing under reaper’s venom had my jaw clenched tight. If her pain in the crypt had sloughed off into me, it was nothing compared to that.

“She’s covering for him!” Nix barked. “You can see they’ve orchestrated this. I’ve been set up!”