"This is what happens when you shelter monsters. She’s finally shown her true colors."
Veyra definitely included in that phrase and no one said a thing about it.
The crowd shifted.
So faces hardened. Others flickered with doubt. A few looked at as if seeing for the first ti — and not kindly.
My head burned, rage built up in my heart at the nonsense she kept spewing out. I wanted to go up to her and hit her, give her a good smack across her face, but I couldn’t just blindly dismiss her words when there was evidence.
Then, my gaze drifted back to the bodies. To their lifeless bodies and then to Damar’s hand.
Reality crashed down on like cold water.
No matter how much I trusted him, no matter how fiercely my heart rejected the idea — the evidence was there.
Clear and undeniable.
My breath shook.
I closed my eyes and forced myself to inhale slowly.
When I opened them again, the haze had cleared.
I stepped forward.
Yeah, the evidence was clear. Damar had killed soone but... So what?
I made a promise to Damar that I would pick his side, I would protect and defend him no matter what.
So, even if he did kill soone...
I walked past the bodies without looking at them again. Past Veyra, who watched with a thin, triumphant smile.
... Even if he was a murderer...
I got to Damar, stood in front of him with my back facing him, spreading my arms wide like wings, and protecting him from everyone who sneered and gnawed at his action.
...I’ll still take his side. Because... He’s my husband and everyone else could go fuck themselves.
The murmurs rose, surprised, uneasy, wondering what I was up to.
"What is she doing?"
"Does she have no sha?"
"She thinks she can still protect him even after what had happened."
On and on they went.
But I didn’t care.
What I cared about was Damar who was behind , seeing take his side unconditionally.
I glanced over my shoulder, smiled at him, and this gave him a sense of gladness in his heart.
He must’ve thought I was disappointed but I was proud. Proud that he stood his ground and kept his mouth shut this whole ti.
If he had spoken a word in his defense, they would’ve used that against him.
If he had tried to leave, they would’ve claid he was fleeing from his cri.
No matter what he had done, they would always find a way to twist it.
So, for him to stand his ground and keep his mouth shut, I was so proud.
He just made my job a lot easier.
"Arinya," Chief Kasa called.
My father could not call out to , not after how we had parted the last night.
How disappointed I was with him.
He could not even look in the eye without showing guilt.
"Is this a sign that you’re going to defend your mate despite the proof lying on the floor?" Chief Kasa asked and I nodded.
"That’s right."
"And how do you plan to do it?" He asked. "How do you plan to overturn what’s already been seen?"
Chief Kasa... He was looking at with that amused smile again, like he knew what I was going to do. Rather, he knew I was going to do sothing interesting.
"That’s simple. I’m going to ask Damar," I said.
"But he refused to speak even when we’ve been asking him what happened!" He said and I scoffed.
"What makes you think he’ll treat the sa way he treats you?"
It sounded disrespectful but it was the truth. To Damar, everyone else was just a waste of space. I was the only one he cared about.
"Then, go ahead."
I heard Veyra click her tongue from the side, and heard multiple murmurs, but I blocked their opinions out and focused on my husband.
I turned around and finally t Damar’s gaze.
"Sorry," I mumbled. "I should’ve co sooner."
But Damar shook his head and finally spoke for the first ti since he found himself in the situation.
"No, it’s my fault for not being careful even after you warned so many tis."
That’s right. He knows that he’s supposed to be careful, so why does he put himself in this situation?
I looked at his hand, and the blood slled stronger up close. But it wasn’t sothing I wasn’t used to.
After going hunting with them a couple of tis, I’ve grown used to the sll of blood... Sowhat. But it was better than when I first held a chunk of undercooked at my father handed .
"Damar," I called, softly.
There was no madness in his eyes. No bloodlust, or anger. There was just the guilt of having to put through this again.
"Damar, did you kill them?" I asked and everyone inevitably fell silent.
It was almost as if the crowd held its breath to hear his response.
Damar’s jaw tightened.
Then, at last, he freed them and spoke.
"No," he said, the single word low, almost defiant.
The crowd shifted uneasily.
Then, almost imdiately, he added, "...Yes."
A ripple went through the onlookers. Murmurs turned into scoffs.
"By the beast god, he’s denying it, even when we all know the truth!" soone shouted.
"He won’t admit it because he’s guilty!" another added.
I froze, my heart stuttering in my chest. My mind spun. No... and... yes? What did that an?
Did he kill them or not?
"You’ll have to give us a proper response." Soone yelled.
"Yeah! You can’t deny it and own up to it at the sa ti. Just admit you killed them and face your punishnt."
I looked at Damar. He didn’t want to explain, and I wondered if I could figure it out on my own.
At this point, I was going to be a detective. I had to beco a detective.
If not, I might not see the pieces Damar was trying to show .
Word of mouth wasn’t enough to vindicate him, so soone had to pick up the details and figure it out.
Soone... Who was not at the scene.
"Solin, are you there?" I called out and she ca out from the crowd.
"Yes, I’m here." She said and I felt relieved.
"Can you help here?" I asked. "I could really use your knowledge."
Solin had no problem walking over to us, and she seed unfazed by the dead bodies too.
Veyra gnashed her teeth, frowning as she wondered what sort of stunt we were planning to pull.
She must be confident that we can never uncover the truth because of the final result.
But it’s clear that she’s not smart enough to think that far.
In a cri scene, there is always evidence to vindicate the most suspicious individual. As long as the cri scene is not tampered with, and right now, we have an untampered cri scene.
Thank you, Damar.
Thanks to Damar staying still and not moving a muscle, no one ca near, and no one touched the bodies.
"What do you need my help for?" Solin asked, genuinely ready to help.
"Help find clues," I said. "Anything that seems unusual."
"Alright. I’m very observant so don’t worry."
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