POV: Ravenna
Three days after Lucien's death, House Ashford came for blood.
Not literally. Though I could see in Seraphine's eyes that she wished it could be. That she wished she could tear Theron apart the way Havoc had torn apart her brother.
They appeared at court in formal mourning clothes. Black with silver trim. Seraphine looked like a ghost. Her face was pale, eyes red and swollen from days of crying. She'd aged ten years in three days.
Cassian stood beside her, his usual charm completely gone. Replaced by something colder. Harder. He'd always been calculating, but now there was rage beneath the surface.
Father sat on his throne, every inch a king. I stood beside him in the royal box. Theron was positioned below with Hadrian flanking him. His face was carefully blank but I could see the tension in his shoulders. The way his hands were clenched at his sides.
He hadn't slept since the arena. Barely eaten. Just sat in his quarters staring at nothing while guilt ate him alive. I'd been there every day, sitting with him, trying to pull him back from whatever dark place his mind kept going.
It wasn't enough. I could see him slipping further away.
"Your Majesty," Cassian said, his voice carrying through the throne room. "House Ashford formally demands justice for the murder of Lucien, heir to our house."
"Murder?" Father's voice was cold. "That's a strong accusation to level at the victor of a trial by combat."
"The combat was concluded when Lucien attacked the princess's dragon," Cassian continued. "Theron's... response... was excessive. Unnecessary. A berserker rage that went far beyond defense into pure butchery."
Murmurs rippled through the court. People shifting. Whispering. This was what everyone had been waiting for. The scandal. The drama.
I wanted to scream at all of them.
"Lucien broke every rule of combat," Father said. "He attacked a bonded mate. Ancient law is clear—"
"Ancient law accounts for berserker rage as a response," Cassian interrupted. "But it does not excuse losing complete control. Theron should have been able to stop once the threat was neutralized. Instead, he..." His voice wavered. "He tore my cousin apart like an animal."
Seraphine made a sound. Broken. Anguished.
I looked at her and felt my chest tighten. She'd lost her brother. Her only sibling. Yes, Lucien had brought it on himself. Yes, he'd broken sacred rules. But Seraphine was still destroyed by grief and nothing I could say would change that.
"Princess Ravenna." Seraphine's voice cut through the room. Quiet but sharp. "You were there. You saw what he did. Tell them. Tell them how your... bonded... murdered my brother."
All eyes turned to me.
I met Seraphine's gaze. Saw the hatred there. The blame. She would never forgive me for being the reason her brother died. For existing. For having a bond that triggered the berserker rage.
"I saw Lucien attack Solace," I said clearly. "I saw him break every law of combat to hurt an innocent dragon who wasn't even fighting. I saw him cheat because he was losing honorably."
"That doesn't excuse—"
"And I saw Theron respond exactly as any bonded dragon would respond." My voice was steel now. "With instinct. With rage. With the absolute imperative to destroy the threat to his mate. It wasn't murder, Lady Seraphine. It was nature."
"Nature," she spat. "You call that nature? He was still tearing into Lucien's body when he was already dead! Still attacking when there was nothing left to attack!"
"Because berserker rage doesn't stop just because the threat is eliminated," Hadrian said. His voice was gruff but steady. "It burns until the dragon's mate calms them. Which is exactly what Princess Ravenna did. She risked her own life to calm Havoc when no one else could."
"A convenient excuse," Cassian said. "Berserker rage. Ancient law. All of it designed to let nobles get away with whatever violence they want."
"Enough." Father's voice cracked like a whip. "House Ashford, you have the right to demand a formal hearing to examine the events. But you do not have the right to make accusations in my throne room without evidence or procedure."
"Then we formally request a hearing," Cassian said immediately. "To determine if charges should be brought against Theron for excessive force and loss of control resulting in death."
Father was silent for a long moment. The entire court held its breath.
"Granted," he finally said. "A formal hearing will convene in one week. We will examine all testimony, all evidence, all precedent. Until then, Theron will remain confined to the palace grounds but not imprisoned. The hearing will determine if charges are warranted."
"Your Majesty—" I started.
"The decision is made, Ravenna." Father's eyes met mine. Apologetic but firm. "House Ashford has the right to justice. The hearing will proceed."
Seraphine looked at Theron with pure venom. "I hope they execute you," she said quietly. "I hope you die knowing what you are. A monster."
Theron didn't react. Didn't even flinch. Just stood there taking it like he deserved every word.
That was worse than if he'd defended himself.
The court was dismissed. People filed out, already gossiping, already picking sides. Some thought Theron was justified. Some thought he'd gone too far. Everyone had an opinion.
I descended from the royal box and went straight to Theron. Hadrian stepped aside to let me through.
"Hey," I said softly. "Are you okay?"
Stupid question. He clearly wasn't okay.
"I'm fine," he said. His voice was hollow.
"Liar."
"Ravenna—"
"We need to talk." I glanced at Hadrian. "Privately."
Hadrian nodded and moved to give us space, though he stayed close enough to intervene if needed.
I led Theron to a side chamber. Empty. Quiet. Away from prying eyes and gossiping courtiers.
The moment the door closed, his carefully maintained composure cracked.
"She's right," he said. "Seraphine. She's right. I am a monster. I should be executed for what I did."
"No—"
"I couldn't stop, Ravenna. Even when I knew he was dead. Even when I knew I should stop. The rage just kept going and going and I couldn't—"
"Stop." I grabbed his arm. "Stop saying that. You're not a monster."
"How can you say that after what you saw?"
"Because I know you. Because I've seen who you are when you're not fighting for your life. When you're not protecting your mate from someone who broke sacred law."
"The hearing—" His voice broke. "They're going to review everything. Every detail. You'll have to testify about what you saw. What I did. And then... then you'll realize what everyone else already knows. That I'm too dangerous. Too broken."
"I'm not going to change my mind about you."
"You should." He pulled away from me. Turned so he didn't have to look at me. "You should break the bond. Reject me before the hearing. Save yourself the association with whatever they decide I am."
My stomach dropped. "What?"
"I wouldn't blame you," he continued. His voice was flat. Dead. "Five other women rejected me and they were smart to do it. You should too. Before I hurt you. Before the rage takes over again and you can't bring me back."
"Theron, look at me."
He didn't move.
"LOOK AT ME."
He turned slowly. His amber eyes were dull. Empty. Like he'd already accepted this. Already decided I would leave.
"I am not rejecting you," I said fiercely. "Not today. Not at the hearing. Not ever. Do you understand me?"
"You don't—"
"I understand perfectly." I closed the distance between us. "I understand that you're scared. That you're guilty. That you think you don't deserve to be loved after what you did. But I'm not going anywhere."
"Ravenna, please—"
"We will face this hearing together." I grabbed his hand. Held it tight. "We will testify. We will show them exactly what happened and why. And we will prove that what you did was justified under ancient law. Together."
"And if they don't agree? If they charge me anyway?"
"Then we fight that too." My voice was steel. "Because I choose you, Theron. I chose you before the arena. I choose you now. And I'll keep choosing you no matter what some hearing decides."
He stared at me like I was speaking a language he didn't understand.
"Why?" he whispered. "Why would you tie yourself to this? To me? You could walk away. Find someone else. Someone without... without all this blood."
"Because I don't want someone else." I pulled him closer. "I want you. All of you. Including the parts you think are monstrous. Including the trauma and the guilt and the scars. I want all of it because it's YOU."
"I don't deserve you."
"You do." I put my hand on his face. Made him look at me. Really look. "You just need to start believing it. You saved my life. Solace's life. You did what any bonded dragon would do. And I won't let you destroy yourself over it."
Something flickered in his eyes. Fragile. Barely there.
Hope.
"Together?" he asked. Like he was afraid to believe it could be true.
"Together," I confirmed. "Through the hearing. Through whatever comes after. I'm not going anywhere."
He pulled me into his arms. Held me like I was the only thing keeping him anchored. Like without me he'd just drift away into guilt and darkness.
"I don't know how to do this," he whispered against my hair. "How to accept that someone stays."
"Then learn," I said. "Because I'm staying. Whether you believe you deserve it or not."
We stood there for a long time. Holding each other in that quiet chamber while the rest of the castle gossiped and plotted and prepared for the hearing that would determine everything.
But for this moment, it was just us.
And that was enough.