The Royal Court is smaller than Ironveil's ceremony hall. That surprises me.

I expected marble, banners, people waiting to tell me what blood means. Instead Evan takes me through a side entrance into a stone building that smells like old paper, metal seals, an

The full toxicology report takes until morning.

I sleep for three hours in a Court guest room and wake before anyone comes for me. My wolf is there immediately—not pushing, not howling, just present in the back of my mind like a second set of eyes.

For most

Grant arrives under Royal escort at nine the next morning. I know the exact time because I am watching the clock instead of the door. Tessa sits beside me at the long evidence table, one boot hooked around the chair leg. Sera has the sealed toxicology reports arrang