"Lord Gabriel says there is no pregnancy. Is this true?" Damien continued, almost as if he didn't want to say the words.
"Yes," Mira answered simply.
Damien took a step back, as though struck by an invisible hand. His eyes went wide, disoriented, flickering toward Seliora who was already collapsing under the weight of her guilt.
"Seliora?" he said.
"I'm sorry," she whispered through hiccupped sobs. "I'm so sorry."
"Seliora…" he breathed, each syllable torn from his chest. "No… goddess, no, you didn't."
She tried to reach for him, but even she knew it was useless. The court was silent. No one moved. The truth had been set free.
"And as your father has accepted this deal," Gabriel said, stepping forward as though ready to seize a crown, "Luciver steps down from the throne immediately."
He turned to the king with a smugness that was practically glowing from his skin.
