I nodded. “And her neck was clearly broken. I know of no Craven that would do that.”
Tawny folded her arms around herself. “And I don’t want to know of any person capable of that.”
Neither did I, but we all knew that people were capable of all manner of atrocities, and so were the Ascended. After all, they too had been mortal at one time, and the capability for cruelty seemed to be one of the few traits some carried over.
My thoughts wandered to Lord Mazeen. He was cruel, a bully, and based on our latest interaction, I suspected that he could be much worse. But was he capable of what was done? I shuddered. Even if he were, why would he do it, and how? I didn’t have an answer for that.
There was only one thing I could think of that could do that, but it seemed too unreal to believe.
“Did you…did you recognize her?” Tawny asked softly.
“I didn’t, but I have to think she was a Lady in Wait or perhaps a visitor based on her gown,” I told her.
Tawny nodded silently, returning to twisting the pearl on her bodice. Silence crept into the space, and Vikter arrived not long after, stepping into the room to speak quietly to Rylan. I scooted to the edge of my seat when he stepped away from Rylan, sighing as he sat on the edge of the chest that rested at the foot of my bed.
“Every inch of this castle was searched, and we found no other victims or Craven,” he said, leaning forward. “Commander Jansen believes the grounds are safe.” He paused, squinting as he lifted his gaze. “Relatively speaking, that is.”
“Did you…did you see her?” I asked, and he nodded. “Do you think it was a Craven attack?”
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” he replied, repeating what Rylan had said.
“What would that even mean?”
“I don’t know,” he stated, rubbing his hand against his forehead.
My attention zeroed in on him, noting how he massaged the skin above his brow and how he’d squinted when he looked to where we sat near the oil lamps. Sometimes, Vikter got headaches. Not like the ones I got after opening up my senses or using my gifts too much, but far more severe, where light and sound made him nauseous and his head pulse.
I opened up my senses and immediately felt the sharp pounding ache behind my eyes. I quickly severed the connection, and it was like visualizing a cord connecting me to him being snipped in two. The last thing I wanted was to end up with another throbbing headache keeping me up.
“If it wasn’t a Craven, then are there any suspects?” Tawny asked.
“The Duke believes it was the work of a Descenter.”
“What?” I demanded as I rose.
“Here? In the castle?” Tawny cried.
“That is what he believes.” Vikter lifted his head as I walked over to him, his gaze wary.
“And what do you believe?” Rylan asked from where he still stood by the door. “Because I’m unsure how a Descenter could’ve managed to inflict wounds like that without leaving blood.”
“Agreed,” Vikter murmured, watching me. “There would be no way to clean something like that up, especially not when the victim had been seen less than an hour before.”
“So, why would the Duke insist it was a Descenter?” Tawny queried. “He’s not unintelligent. He would have to realize that, too.”
I casually placed my hand on the back of Vikter’s neck as I reached for a small fur quilt. His skin was warm and dry as I thought of the beaches and my mother’s laugh. I knew his pain was eased the moment he took a deep, shuddering breath.
“I’m unsure why the Duke believes this, but he must have his reasons.” Vikter’s gaze was grateful as I slipped my hand away and walked back to the chair, placing the throw in my lap.
Tawny looked over at me and then took a deep breath before she refocused on Vikter. “Do you know who she was?”
Sitting straight, he was definitely more clear-eyed when he spoke again. “She was identified by one of the servants. The victim’s name was Malessa Axton.”
The name was unfamiliar to me, but Tawny whispered, “Oh.”
I twisted toward her. “Did you know her?”
“Not well. I mean, I know of her.” She gave a small shake of her head, sending several curls free from her twist. “I think she came to Court around the same time as I did, but she was often with one of the Ladies who lives on Radiant Row. I think it’s Lady Isherwood,” she added.
Radiant Row was the nickname given to the row of homes closest to the castle and to Wishers’ Grove park. Many of the opulent houses were owned by the Ascended.