Sadly I don't own them, they belong to Amelia Atwater-Rhodes.
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His heart lay in shambles at his feet, literally. His sister, the only person in the world who knew all of his secrets and loved him despite them, was sitting at his feet. Her hands were bound and he held them tightly. He fought back his emotions and faced the door, his face the perfect mask of calm. He knew exactly what his sister had done and that it would warrant a death sentence, no questions asked. He also knew why she had committed such terrible crimes. They were crimes of passion as well as hatred. Love of her Diente and hatred of his Naga.
Suddenly the door opened to reveal Zane and Danica. He felt his spine straighten involuntarily. They began to speak but he heard none of it. All he could think about was his sister. She would die and he would be left alone.
When they had left for the Palace their people had shunned them, branded them traitors and cowards to bow before the Cobriana. He could never go home again and none would ever join him here. He felt his heartbreak even more at that thought. Never again would he look upon the face of another white viper and see himself in their resemblance. He was forever shunned to the world of Kiesha's cobra kin. Not that he regretted his decision because he didn't. He just wished that his sister would have had the good sense to not sink to treachery and sabotage to get what she wanted. In the end it caused more pain than it was worth, for her, him, even Zane.
Finally, he heard Zane speaking to him. He hesitated before answering, not wanting to answer but knowing that it was something that he had to do. He had to be strong for her and see it out with her for as far as he could. He wasn't about to abandon her like she did him.
"Thank you, sir, but I'll stay. If I can't do my duty now, I have no place in your guard."
The words sounded harsh and cold to Ailbhe's own ears and he knew that they would sound the same to Adelina. He made his sister stand with a small nudge and followed Erika and her charge from the room. Their footsteps echoing eerily down the hall brought about feelings of death and emptiness. Soon enough both would be filling his heart. He felt it completely break as he locked his sister in her tiny cell and walk away. It was the hardest thing that he had ever done, and he knew that even though tomorrow might come, his life would never again be the same.
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A/N I always wondered what might have been going through Ailbhe's head during that scene. This was what I came up with. Please tell me what you think. Good, bad, or what?