Page 97 of The Shadow Sanctum

My eyes constrict. “Yes. Of course. We⁠—”

“Like you were friends with Zephyr?”

I slowly push myself straight. A pang hits my gut, but I don’t allow myself to feel the sadness that follows. Only a pinch of shame.

“Father told me.” She gives me a glare that tries so hard not to be hurt. “You planted a snake in our sister’s home and made it look like an accident… How could you⁠—”

“I had my reasons, Raven,” I say. Quick. Sharp. Chilled. Too much so.

This earns me another laugh. “Jealousy? That’s your excuse?”

Slapping the table, she pushes from the seat and turns her back on me to pace. And I let it happen. I don’t correct her. I don’t even want to.

Right now, she thinks I’m a murderer.

My people believe Zephyr’s death was a tragedy.

Both of these things are better than admitting the truth. My twin was a traitor who put our people in jeopardy. She couldn’t be trusted not to do it again.

I did what I had to do. For my people.

“Ever since that…” Raven takes a breath when her voice shakes. “Ever since you brought the trafficker here, you’ve been different. You’ve put him above your own people. Your own family. Your own mate.”

When she spins, her lips are twisted in a grimace. “Do you know how many times I soothed Thorne’s worries for you? Do you know how many times I defended you?”

“I can only imagine,” I say quietly.

“Thorne loves you.” She sucks in a sharp breath. “I love you. But the things you’ve done under the influence of that beast are unforgivable.”

Her hands shake as she clenches, chest rising and falling with the labor of her emotion.

I wish I could comfort her. Wrap my arms around her and tell her everything our father said was a lie.

But I don’t.

Because I’m his daughter too, and I know his influence. Whatever truth he’s muddied has done its damage.

“I love you too, Raven.” I stand. “And I loved Zephyr with all my heart. I hope you know that…”

Her face scrunches with pain I suspect is welcomed.

“I love Thorne and our people and our sisters… There’s nothing I would do to hurt any of you if it didn’t have a purpose.”

Her shoulders fall. “And what was the purpose of ordering Aiden to help the whores escape? How did that help us?”

“That was selfishness… I did that because I was angry at Father and wanted to clear my conscience.”

“Everything you’ve done lately is out of selfishness.”

“That’s not⁠—”

“I know about the medicine,” Raven says. For a moment, I’m stuck on my father, and I think Raven’s talking about him.

But the hurt in her eyes clears it up. She’s talking about the children.

“So does Father,” Raven goes on. “We’re going to inform the people of your crimes.”

I frown. “You’re going to tell them I’ve been giving antibiotics to dying children… How do you think they’ll respond? You don’t think some will side with me? Will question Father’s teachings when they can see with their own eyes the children’s symptoms easing?”