Chapter Four: Two Orders, One Expendable Prince

Fortunately, men who wanted Lain dead had a habit of bringing him answers. After three bells, the queen opened the council in the sick king’s name. Mordred rose first. “Lain’s imprint is unknown and caused the ancestral stele to revolt. The Office of Ceremony requests that his seat be suspended and his imprint placed in royal custody.” Every Red seat agreed. Ysolde waited one heartbeat. “The Frost Covenant will guarantee his bloodline.” She did not prove him innocent. She offered a debt large enough to chain him for life. Cassian smiled. “Why trouble our sister? Lain is my brother. The Red Dragon Legion can protect him.” Two dragons had bitten the same piece of meat. The queen faced Lain. “To whom will you surrender the imprint?”