The emperor's hand tightened around the armrest of his throne. "This is more than just about one human, Edmund. This is about control. Do you think anyone will respect you if they see you bending the rules to save an enemy?"
"I saved a life," Edmund replied. "And I'll save her again if I must. She's valuable to us. She gave us information about Veloria—information that can help us take it over. Now that she is a vampire, there shouldn't be any worries about her being an enemy."
The room went deathly silent.
The emperor stared at his son for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Slowly, his grip on the armrest loosened, and he leaned back slightly. "And that makes it okay for a Crown Prince to commit such a foolhardy act?" he murmured.