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My sto with her adue and there was no hint of shame or remorse anywhere on her face “You…you can’t be serious,” I said, despite feeling it inwith the Sons? You’ve been helping them murder innocent—”

“Innocent?” She cutthe entirety of the roootten And not just any witch You are hter Heiress to this throne You know there is no such thing as an innocent vampire”

I sed back a ht about Avi, her delicate, opti those she loved I thought about Alek and how he defied all laws and ancient treaties in order to save the woht about Lachlan and Ransom and Hawke, how their brotherhood rivaled even the oldest of covens

And then I thought about Benedict, s, who had so much compassion in his heartit was a ht about how he’d accepted er in his heart Fate had brought us together for a reason, and I could think of no more innocent or worthy vampires than the ones of my mate’s family

“You’re wrong,” I breathed the words

“Excuse me?”

I looked up at her, never breaking our gaze “You’re Wrong” I said the words louder this ti my tone “Just like with any species, there are evil creatures, but you can’t conderoup because of the actions of a few” Sure, there had been vaht to justice Just as the witches and warlocks who targeted lycans or vaht to justice, by my mate’s Order

“Oh, Jocelyn, do wake up,” she said, tsking me “I’ve always known you were a sy at et over whatever little friendships you had with those foul creatures”

I gaped up at her, still disbelieving “You’ve worked with theht the Sons with him—”

“Your naivety is taxing,” she cut hter This is how you play the ga the trust of those in power is the easiest way to overthrow them”

I clenched my jaw shut

“Take your place at ht side” The words were a command, not a request “You were bred for this Your very power counteracts that of all supernaturals You were created to aid me in this”