Lyanna awoke in the dim light of her chamber, a dull ache pulsing through the back of her head. Her mind scrambled to piece together the fragments of memory, but the sharp pain clouded her thoughts. She reached up to touch the tender spot, wincing as her fingers brushed over a bandage.
The room around her was eerily quiet, too quiet. There were no sounds of the usual morning bustle, no servants preparing her breakfast, no advisors whispering behind closed doors. It was as though the entire palace was holding its breath.
She pushed herself into a sitting position, disoriented. The last thing she remembered was the cold kiss of the dagger's blade, the dark figure disappearing into the shadows. She cursed under her breath. How had she let herself be so careless?
"Your Grace," a familiar voice called from the doorway, pulling her from her thoughts.
Sorin entered, his usual confident demeanor replaced with visible concern. He moved to her side, kneeling beside the bed. "You've been unconscious for hours. We feared the worst."
Lyanna shook her head, ignoring the sting of weakness in her limbs. "I'm fine."
But as she stood, the dizziness returned, and Sorin was quick to catch her. His arms encircled her waist, steadying her as she tried to gather her bearings. His touch, unexpectedly gentle, sent a ripple of warmth through her body.
"Take it slow, Your Grace," Sorin urged softly, his voice carrying a rare tenderness.
She nodded but couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes. There was something in his gaze that unsettled her—something that felt too intimate for the relationship they had.
"Sorin, what happened?" Lyanna asked, her voice strained.
"Lorian's men breached the palace gates. We had to strengthen security around the perimeter. We couldn't find out who did this to you, but we've narrowed down the suspects. There's a traitor, Lyanna. Someone close to you."
His words hit her like a blow, and the sense of betrayal she had been pushing aside came crashing to the surface. The traitor within the walls. The one who had known her every move, every weakness.
"I need to see who's been arrested," Lyanna said, her voice low and controlled.
Sorin hesitated but nodded. "I'll arrange it immediately. But I think it's time we had a word with the council. Someone in there is behind this."
The Confrontation
The council chambers were colder than usual, the tension hanging thick in the air. Lyanna entered the room with Sorin at her side, her eyes scanning each face with calculated precision. Everyone had been gathered here in her absence, and now it was time to unmask the traitor.
She took her seat at the head of the table, her back straight, her gaze unflinching as she addressed the room.
"We've had a breach," Lyanna began, her voice echoing off the stone walls. "An attempt on my life last night. And I suspect one of you had a hand in it."
There was a heavy silence. The faces around the table were a mix of shock, fear, and something more subtle—guilt. Lyanna knew that look all too well.
"You all know the stakes," she continued, her tone icy. "I cannot afford to trust anyone who would undermine this kingdom. I will not show mercy to those who seek to destroy what we've built."
She turned to Sorin, nodding for him to proceed.
Sorin stepped forward, a piece of parchment in his hand. "We've arrested two individuals. Both of them have had access to sensitive information, but there's one among them whose allegiance is questionable."
He handed the parchment to Lyanna, who scanned it quickly. The name on the paper made her blood run cold.
"General Harwin?" Lyanna muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
The room went silent. Harwin, the stalwart general who had been with her since the beginning, stood rigid, his face unreadable.
"Explain yourself," Lyanna demanded, her voice a knife.
Harwin's gaze remained fixed on the floor. "I am loyal to you, Your Grace. You know this."
"Then why were you seen meeting with Lorian's men last week?" Sorin's voice was sharp, his gaze accusatory.
Harwin flinched, his jaw tightening. "I did no such thing," he said, his tone filled with barely contained anger. "You've been misinformed."
"You lie," Sorin spat. "You've been working with the enemy. We have proof."
Lyanna watched the exchange, her mind working furiously. If Harwin had been compromised, then there was no one left to trust. The sense of betrayal weighed on her chest like a stone. She had placed her faith in him. She had trusted him with her life.
"I want him arrested," Lyanna said, her voice cold and final.
At that moment, the door to the council chamber slammed open, and Kalen entered, his expression grim. "Your Grace, we have a problem."
Lyanna's heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"
"It's not just Harwin," Kalen said, his voice low. "We've traced communication between him and several members of your council. There are more traitors than we thought."
The room erupted into chaos, but Lyanna's mind had already shifted into survival mode.
A Test of Loyalty
The betrayal was deep, far deeper than she had ever imagined. Harwin's arrest sent shockwaves through the palace, but it was only the beginning. Lyanna had to make the painful decision to remove several other members of her inner circle—trusted men and women who had turned on her.
She walked the halls of her palace, a haunted look in her eyes, as the weight of her decisions pressed down on her. The once warm and safe place had become a cold and dangerous ground.
But it was also a place where she would not show weakness. She could not afford to.
The Cliffhanger
Later that night, as Lyanna lay in bed, her mind still racing, she heard a soft knock on her door. She sat up, her heart racing.
"Sorin?"
The door opened, but it wasn't Sorin who stepped inside.
It was Kalen.
His face was unreadable, and he closed the door behind him with a soft click.
"Your Grace," Kalen said, his voice low, "I need to talk to you. There's something you need to know about Sorin."