“You should not be here, Kerensa.” His voice was gravel and thunder, yet he did not advance. “This is the Hall of Judgment. The accused do not leave.”
Kerensa lifted her chin, her small hands trembling but her voice steady. “Then sit on the throne, Emperor. Judge me. I came willingly.”
Kerensa placed her palm over his chest, directly over the thundering twin hearts. “Then conquer me, my Emperor. But let my people live.” m.k. eidem serie imperial 5
“You stole from me,” he said softly. “My heart. My honor. My heir.” His clawed hand cupped her jaw. “That is not theft, little human. That is war.”
Torin descended the dais. Each step shook the floor. When he stopped before her, the heat from his massive body wrapped around her like a chain. “You should not be here, Kerensa
He lifted her into his arms, and the last thing Kerensa saw before he carried her into the shadows of the Imperial Spire was the empty throne of judgment.
He pulled her flush against him, his forehead dropping to hers. “You never had to steal them, Kerensa. You had only to ask. I would have burned the stars for you.” “Then sit on the throne, Emperor
Torin smiled—a terrifying, beautiful thing. “Already done.”
A growl rumbled through the obsidian chamber. Around them, the Imperial Guard tensed. No one spoke to the Conqueror of Grythos like that. No one lived.
She was no longer accused.