But I needed her alive.
For now.
That made me hate her more.
Because I needed answers before blood.
I needed the words.
I needed to hear her say what she had done, what she had known, what she had planned, how many times she had watched me walk through those halls and thought about getting rid of me.
I needed to know if she could still lie like this.
Chained in silver.
With Alaric’s hand around her throat.
With death so close she could taste it.
I needed to see what was left of her when no one was clapping, no one was bowing, no one was calling her Luna.
Just this room.
Just me.
Just the truth, if she had ever been capable of saying it.
“Alaric,” I said.
He did not move.
His hand was still around her throat. His claws were still kissing skin. His entire body looked like a w
