She sat back down with deliberate, controlled movements, her conclusion delivered with chilling finality. "It's Father who's been poisoning her."
"You can doubt everyone else, but not Father!" Long Chen immediately protested, his loyalty to their father overriding even his fear of his sister's wrath and power. "He would never, he loves Mother! He's always loved her!"
"Why not?" Shuyin's laugh was bitter and sharp, like broken glass scraping against stone. "You probably haven't spent much time back at the palace lately, have you, Azhir? Too busy living your own life, traveling the mortal realms, playing at being free." Her voice dripped with scorn. "Who knows, maybe Father has found himself a new mistress somewhere, someone younger, more compliant. Someone he wants to make the new Queen."
She leaned forward, her eyes boring into her brother's. "It wouldn't be the first time he's been caught with another woman, would it?"
