Chapter 45: An Opportune Murder

"Uncle!" I screamed, vision blurring with relieved tears.

Lord Raelen turned his elegant, serene face toward me, wreathed in silvery Seelie magic, and I saw nothing at all in his expression. That's when I knew I'd made a terrible, terrible mistake.

"Lord Jarrah, I believe I was perfectly clear," said my uncle calmly. "I instructed that she be dead by the time of my arrival. I have no wish to see this."

Maybe there was the smallest tremor in his voice. Maybe.

"Uncle?" I wheezed, straining to make sense of this—though of course it made perfect sense. I just couldn't admit it to myself.

"Silence, child." Lord Raelen did not look at me, his face turned deliberately away to look instead at Jarrah's face. "This is necessary. It pains me, but it is quite necessary. Jarrah—"

"Why?!" I shouted, choking, hands scrambling against the stones. "Uncle, what is happening?!"

"War is a necessity, my dear child," whispered my uncle, and his composure did not slip an inch. "The Queen is weak. Th