Chapter 48: The Fall of Renira

The evening sun was slightly red, and that hue reflected on the Vane family estate, painting the sitting room in shades of crimson, and gold.

Renira lounged on a plush velvet chaise, her bare feet resting on a silk cushion as two maids knelt before her, their hands working diligently to massage the tension from her arches.

A goblet of chilled wine sat on the side table, and Renira took a slow sip, letting the cool liquid slide down her throat.

Finally.

Everything was going according to plan.

She had been so clever. So brilliantly, magnificently clever. While the entire castle was in an uproar over that insufferable Dragon King’s arrival, while that white-haired fool Cassian was busy playing the hero, Renira had slipped through the chaos like a shadow.

A little makeup to change her features. A simple maid’s uniform. A tray of refreshments that no one bothered to question. It had been laughably easy to walk right into the Prince’s chambers, to leave that silver goblet on his vanity, to slip back out without a single soul noticing.

By now, Renira thought, a cruel smile curling her lips, that brat is probably writhing on the floor, foaming at the mouth. Maybe he’s already dead. Maybe he’s been locked in a cage, a mindless beast that will have to put down.

The thought filled her with a dark, giddy warmth.

Serves you right, you little pest. You and your pathetic mother. Soon Leonidas will see. He’ll realize I’m the only one who truly loves him. I’m the only one willing to do what’s necessary to free him from that witch’s spell.

One of the maids pressed a little too hard on a tender spot on her heel.

Renira’s smile vanished. She yanked her foot back.

"You idiot!" she snapped. "Are you trying to break my foot? Do you have any idea who I am?"

The maid flinched, her face going pale. "F-Forgive me, my lady! I didn’t mean to—"

"Obviously you didn’t mean to!" Renira sneered, gesturing dismissively. "You don’t have the brain capacity to mean anything. Just get out. Both of you. You’re ruining my relaxation."

The two maids scrambled to their feet, bowing and apologizing as they hurried out of the room. The door clicked shut behind them, and Renira was finally alone.

She sighed, settling back into the chaise and reaching for her wine goblet.

Stupid servants. Stupid everyone. No one in this kingdom has any sense anymore.

She brought the goblet to her lips, savoring the anticipation of the news that would surely come in the morning. The palace would be in chaos. The Empress would be weeping. Leonidas would finally realize the truth—

BANG!

The door to the sitting room exploded open.

Renira shrieked, wine sloshing over the rim of her goblet and staining her gown. She scrambled upright, her heart pounding—

Tanya stood in the doorway.

Her older sister appeared furious. Her eyes were red with tears, and her hair was a complete mess.

"What—" Renira started, her voice trembling with indignation. "What is the meaning of this?! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

Tanya didn’t answer. She crossed the room quickly, and before Renira could react—

CRACK!

Renira’s head snapped to the side, her cheek blazing with pain. She gasped, her hand flying to her reddened skin.

"What have you done?!" Tanya screamed, her voice cracking with anguish. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

Renira stared at her sister, her mind reeling. "What—what are you talking about?! How dare you strike me!"

"How dare I?!" Tanya’s voice rose to a shriek. "How dare YOU! You tried to poison the Prince! You tried to kill an innocent child!"

Renira’s brain stopped working.

She knows. How does she know? How?

Bu....but... she was a master of deception, a queen of lies. She forced her expression into one of offended confusion, shaking her head vigorously.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Renira said, her voice trembling with false innocence. "I didn’t do anything. I have been here all afternoon. The servants can attest—"

"Don’t lie to me!" Tanya grabbed her sister by the shoulders, shaking her violently. "The palace is in chaos! The Empress has ordered your arrest! The King is demanding your head! They found the poison in Valen’s room, and they—"

Renira’s facade began to crumble. "No... no, I didn’t... I..."

"Who else could have done it if not you?!" Tanya continued, her voice breaking. "The kingsmen are already on their way here!"

Renira’s eyes dropped. "No... no, no, no..."

Why? Why wasn’t the brat dead? Why didn’t her plan work?

She bit her thumbnail, her mind racing. He was supposed to drink it. He was supposed to go feral. Everything was supposed to work. Why is everything falling apart?

"What have you done, Renira?" Tanya sobbed, her hands falling away from her sister’s shoulders. "What have you done to our family?"

Renira’s eyes snapped back into focus. "Help me," she pleaded, grabbing her sister’s wrists. "Help me escape. I can still fix this. I can still save Leonidas from that witch’s spell. Please, Tanya, you have to help me—"

"Help you?" Tanya stared at her sister as if she had run mad. Maybe she truly had. "Help you?! You tried to murder the Prince of Shadow’s Edge! You tried to murder an innocent child, Renira! And you want me to help you escape?!"

"He’s not innocent!" Renira screamed, her delusions crashing over her like a wave. "He’s her spawn! He’s the product of that witch’s dark magic! If I don’t stop her, she’ll destroy everything! She’ll destroy Shadow’s Edge! She’ll destroy Leonidas! Don’t you see? I’m trying to save him!"

"You’re trying to save your own ego!" Tanya shouted back. "This has nothing to do with Leonidas and everything to do with your pride! You couldn’t stand being rejected! You couldn’t stand being second to a woman you thought was beneath you!"

A small sound from the doorway made both women freeze.

Silas and Nia stood in the entrance, their small faces pale with fear. They had heard everything. Nia’s lower lip was trembling.

"Aunty Renira..." Silas whispered. "Why did you try to hurt the prince? He’s our friend..."

Renira’s eyes darted to the children, shocked they had oberhead them.

"Children, go to your rooms," Tanya commanded, her voice shaking. "Now. Don’t come out until I tell you."

Silas and Nia hesitated, before they slowly walked away. The moment her children were out of earshot, Tanya grabbed Renira by her violet hair, yanking her head back.

"You fool," She hissed, tears streaming down her face. "You’ve destroyed everything. Our family’s honor. Our reputation. Our lives. And for what? For a man who never truly loved you?"

Renira screamed, clawing at her sister’s hands. "Let go of me! Let go!"

"You deserve everything that’s coming to you," Tanya sobbed, her grip tightening. "Everything."

"Let go! You don’t understand! He was bewitched! She cast a spell on him—"

"There’s no saving you, Renira," Tanya whispered.

Renira twisted violently, sinking her teeth into her sister’s hand.

"AAAGHHH!" Tanya screamed, her grip loosening.

Renira shoved her sister backward and ran.

She burst through the sitting room doors, her bare feet slapping against the marble floors. She tore through the hallway, past the terrified servants, past the ornate tapestries and gilded mirrors.

The main doors were guarded. But the window....there was a window at the end of the corridor.

I can still escape, she thought desperately. Ican still fix this. I can find the panther. I can—

She launched herself through the window, shattering the glass in a rain of glittering shards. She hit the ground hard, cutting her hands and knees on the stones, but she pushed herself up and ran.

She was halfway across the garden when something slammed into her.

Renira screamed, her body hitting the ground with bone-crushing force. A huge weight pressed down on her back, pinning her to the cold earth. She gasped, her lungs burning, her vision swimming.

She twisted her head, and immediately regretted it.

A white panther stood over her. It growled at her, baring its fangs.

Cassian, Renira realized, her heart plummeting into her stomach. The white-haired Sovereign.

"You—you can’t do this!" Renira screamed, thrashing beneath his weight. "I am a noble! I am the daughter of Lord Vane! You have no right—"

The white panther growled again, silencing her. It didn’t move. It didn’t let her up.

And then Renira saw them.

Marching across the garden was a battalion of kingsmen. At their head was General Aldric, his blue eyes cold as ice.

Aldric came to a stop a few feet away, looking down at the thrashing, screaming woman with thinly veiled contempt.

"Lady Renira," Aldric called out. "You are under arrest for the attempted murder of Prince Valen of Shadow’s Edge, and for conspiracy to spread the feral sickness."

"YOU CAN’T DO THIS!" Renira shrieked, still struggling beneath Cassian’s massive paw. "I AM A NOBLE! YOU CAN’T HIT ME! YOU’RE A GENTLEMAN!"

Aldric’s lips curled into a smile. "Perhaps not."

He stepped aside, and Nalani stepped forward. The panther beastwoman’s dark eyes were glittering with murderous satisfaction. She cracked her knuckles, rolling her shoulders.

"But I, am not a gentleman," Nalani said sweetly.

Renira’s eyes widened in terror. "No—wait—please—"

THWACK.

Nalani’s fist connected with Renira’s jaw, and the world went black.