"Does the emperor suspect you?" Aldric asked quietly.
The question hung heavy in the dim, lamplit air. Above them, the city buzzed in ignorant peace, but here, in this hidden hollow beneath the stones, every word felt dangerous.
The emperor had declared national mourning for his mother, but his rage at Aralyn's escape had not dimmed. He had called off the search for Leroy and Lorraine, turning all his fury toward finding Aralyn, "his mother's killer". Aldric suspected the erratic shifts in his temper were no coincidence. If anyone could temper the emperor's madness, even twist it to their own ends, it was Lord Morrathen. The man had always known how to hold the leash on monsters.
"No," Morrathen said, setting his teacup down with unhurried grace. "And no one would dare step inside my mansion. But…" His gaze flicked toward Aralyn. "Lady Aralyn wishes to remain here. With you."
