Queen Bellatrix swept into the room holding a bouquet of flowers, and every wolf in it went still.
King Tiberon followed a step behind her, his eyes sharp with open skepticism.
It was the most un-Bellatrix thing imaginable. So wrong it drew every eye like a snapped thread.
Serena was asleep and completely unaware of Dex and Gavriel flanking her like a pair of extremely tense, stupidly good-looking bookends.
"Poor dear." Bellatrix's voice came out motherly. She turned her attention to Alaric. "Are you certain it wasn't the flu? Or some little bug?" Her lips curved. "Perhaps she caught something from one of the beds she warms."
Alaric didn't look up from Serena's chart. "It was poison."
Dex went rigid, jaw tight and he didn't bother hiding his agitation. "She does not warm anyone's bed. Spare us the bullshit and stop insulting her."
His eyes narrowed at his mother.
"And considering you are the one who poisoned her, I am struggling to understand why you are here at all."
