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Chapter 1—Righteously Execute

I felt as though my insides had dropped from my body into my feet My throat closed up on me, and I could not draw a breath I could see Whitney out of the corner of my eye as she stepped froether I looked at Nelle on the floor at Branford’s feet and tried to co

Handmaid?

Witch’s tea?

My head reeled, cycling through all the ti, often staying to make sure I drank it I remembered when Hadley first came to Silverhelm, and how Janet had ih she had never offered to make it for anyone else

I glanced up at Branford as he stood there beside lared down at the woain as the fingers of his hand twitched—as if trying to grasp so out of the air

“What tea?” he uttered quietly

Nelle simply stared up at him

“I said what tea?” He bellowed as the woround, but Parnell held her in place As he tightened his grip on her shoulder, he angled her body to one side, and I could see he held a sharp blade at her back

“Janet ,” I said quietly

Branford turned his head toward me with a snap

“She what?”

“I…I said…she aze didn’t leave Nelle’s

Branford turned froar

“This has been your doing all along,” Branford stated as he took a slight step toward the other king “This is why you have pressured my court to have me secure an heir You knew Alexandra would not bear my child because you made sure she would not”

“Do not be absurd,” Edgar said with a wave of his hand

“No…not absurd,” Branford said He shook his head “Actually, it all makes sense nohere it did not before You have lied to this court, and you have plotted against another royal”

“Surely you do not believe the ar said with a sneer “She is obviously mad”

The er in their tones was apparent Edgar glanced around nervously as he pulled his daughter close to his side Even I could see the guilt in his eyes