Kaelen's POV
Genevieve's voice carried no hint of rebellion. She spoke her truth with the kind of certainty that made arguments pointless.
Percival's face hardened, darkness swimming in his eyes, but he remained silent when our gazes met across the blood-stained hall.
She held his stare for another heartbeat before turning her back on him completely, stepping away from us both.
The atmosphere shifted around us like a living thing. Tension crackled in the air until Percival shattered the quiet.
"Thank you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "For honoring our agreement."
I studied his face, taking my time with the response.
"I cannot say it brings me joy to release you. The crimes you committed were real. But we struck a bargain, and you returned my uncle to me. So take your freedom and make something better of it."
A ghost of a smile touched Percival's mouth.
"I am no longer the man I was."
Genevieve's laugh cut through the air like a blade.
