Chapter 54 Twisted Truth
Margot testified next. Her story matched Garrett's perfectly. Too perfectly. She claimed to have been with Garrett before the hunt, traveling together in the same carriage. Claimed they'd stayed together during the hunt itself until horses scattered. Claimed neither could have shot the darts because they were always in sight of multiple witnesses.
"Except when you weren't." Adrian pointed out. "Multiple riders report losing sight of both of you in the mist. You could have separated. Could have positioned yourselves to shoot the darts without being seen."
"Could have." Margot agreed. "But I didn't. Your Majesty, I understand you're desperate to clear Lady Lila. To find alternative suspects. But manufacturing conspiracy from coincidence won't bring the Queen justice."
"And protecting each other through coordinated lies will?"
"We're not lying. We're answering honestly while you refuse to accept truth." Margot's voice carried wounded dignity. "Lord Garrett and I are convenient targets because of our relationship with the late Queen. But being close to her doesn't make us killers."
The council deliberated into evening. Debated evidence and doubt and reasonable conclusions. Finally, Thorne delivered their finding.
"The evidence is insufficient to prosecute Lady Margot or Lord Garrett for Queen Celeste's murder. While circumstances are suspicious, suspicion isn't proof. Reasonable doubt exists regarding their involvement."
"And Lady Lila?" Adrian demanded. "What's your finding about her?"
"The evidence is also insufficient to prosecute Lady Lila. The letters Maya provided, while questionable in origin, do create reasonable doubt about the evidence against her. We cannot convict on doubt alone."
"So everyone walks free?" Adrian's voice was dangerously quiet. "The Queen is dead, someone murdered her, but no one faces justice because everyone has just enough doubt to escape conviction?"
"That's how law works, Your Majesty." Thorne's voice was heavy. "We prosecute what we can prove. We cannot punish based on belief or intuition alone."
"Then the law is broken." Adrian stood abruptly. "And this council is useless."
He stormed from the chamber. The bond thrummed with his rage, his frustration, his absolute helplessness in the face of injustice. Lila felt it all, felt his soul screaming that truth had lost and lies had won.
She found him later in his study, drinking and staring at documents that proved nothing. He looked up when she entered, his expression devastated.
"They're going to get away with it." His voice was hollow. "Margot and Garrett. They framed you, murdered Celeste, and they're going to walk free because we can't prove it beyond doubt."
Lila moved carefully, her back still screaming from yesterday's flogging. "But at least I'm not hanging. At least we bought time."
"Time for what? They've won, Lila. Created enough doubt that no one can be convicted. Celeste's murder will remain 'unresolved' forever. And they'll stay at court, unpunished, probably planning their next move."
"Then we make our own move." Lila's voice hardened. "We stop playing by rules they've already broken. Stop trying to prove guilt through law when law is too slow and blind. We find the truth ourselves. However we have to."
Adrian looked at her with something like hope mixing with his devastation. "What are you suggesting?"
"I'm suggesting we become what they think we are." Lila met his eyes. "Ruthless. Willing to break rules. Willing to do whatever necessary to protect what's ours." She moved closer. "They murdered my sister and framed me for it. They've destroyed our lives, our bond, our future. And now they're walking away unpunished because we followed rules while they didn't."
"So we stop following rules?"
"We stop letting rules protect people who've proven they deserve no protection." Lila's voice was steel beneath her pain. "Margot and Garrett want war? We give them war. Not through councils and trials. Through truth and power and the bond they tried so hard to break."
Adrian stood, moving to her. "You're talking about revenge."
"I'm talking about justice when law fails to provide it." She held his gaze. "I'm talking about using every advantage we have, including the mate bond they tried to weaponize against us. I'm talking about fighting fire with fire."
"That's dangerous. Could destroy us worse than they already have."
"Then we burn together." Lila's voice didn't waver. "But at least we burn fighting instead of suffering. At least we make them pay for what they've done."
Adrian studied her face. Saw the change in her. The girl who'd hidden in towers was gone. The woman who stood before him had been forged in pain and blood and false accusations. Had been strengthened by suffering instead of broken by it.
"We do this carefully." He said finally. "Strategically. No rash moves. No actions we can't justify later. We find proof that stands up to any scrutiny. And we destroy them completely."
Lila smiled, and it wasn't nice. It was the smile of someone who'd stopped being prey and started being hunter.
The bond between them flared. Not gentle. Not soft. Something sharp and fierce and dangerous. They'd tried being honorable. Tried following every rule. Tried proving innocence through proper channels.
And proper channels had failed them.
So now they'd try something else. Something darker. Something that scared them both but scared their enemies more.
Margot and Garrett had murdered Celeste and framed Lila.
Now Lila and Adrian would hunt them with every advantage destiny had given them.
And the Moon Goddess help anyone who stood in their way.