It was noon. The central altar of the Embermane Clan was in the middle of a routine blessing ceremony. Jasmine stood at the front, basking in the attention.
Suddenly, a grating, scraping sound came from outside the heavy steel gates. The two guards stepped back in fear.
The gates were slowly pushed open. Angel, covered in snow, appeared like a ghost. In her right hand, she dragged a bloody, mangled corpse.
The body left a shocking red line on the pristine snow, stretching all the way to the edge of the sacred altar.
The crowd gasped in horror. No one could believe the exiled "defect" was still alive, let alone dragging a corpse.
Angel walked expressionlessly to the center of the altar. She swung her arm and threw Cormac's body at Jasmine's feet like a sack of trash.
Jasmine let out a theatrical scream, hiding behind Al Stein. But the extreme shock and panic in her eyes didn't escape Angel's notice.
Angel looked around coldly. "This is the assassin Jasmine sent to kill me and my consort," she announced loudly. "I demand the High Oracle deliver justice!"
The High Oracle frowned and walked down the steps. He used his staff to push the corpse's face to the side. People immediately recognized Cormac Volkov.
Whispers broke out. Cormac was Jasmine's personal guard; it was hard to deny the connection.
Jasmine immediately put on a tearful face. "I knew nothing about this!" she cried. "Cormac went missing days ago. He must have gone rogue!"
She even turned the tables, accusing Angel of colluding with wild men in the wasteland and murdering her former guard out of jealousy.
Angel scoffed. She stepped forward and kicked open Cormac's collar, revealing the bright red fox clan mark on his neck.
"If he was a rogue," Angel demanded, her voice ringing out, "why does his mate mark still point to Jasmine? Marks don't lie. He was following orders."
The entire square fell silent. The mate mark was irrefutable proof. As long as it existed, it proved he was acting under his Prime's command.
Jasmine's face went pale. She hadn't expected Angel to know the rules of the mate mark.
Just as Jasmine was backed into a corner, Al Stein stepped forward, pointing a shaking finger at Angel.
"She's lying!" Al shouted. "I saw Angel seducing Cormac before the exile! She wanted to run away with him!"
He spun a vile tale, claiming Angel had drugged Cormac and killed him in a dispute over loot. To sell the lie, Al pulled a silver hair clip from his pocket-a trinket Angel used to wear-and held it high. "I found this near his body! She lured him out!"
Jasmine's loyalists in the crowd immediately seized the opportunity. "Murderer! She's trying to frame our Prime!" a burly warrior shouted, intentionally stoking the flames. "Don't listen to the defect's lies!"
The crowd, already prejudiced and easily swayed by the planted evidence and the orchestrated voices, turned on Angel instantly. They hurled insults, and someone even threw a stone at her.
Angel dodged the stone. She looked at her former mate, the man who had sworn to protect her, and a mocking smile touched her lips.
"Selling your dignity for a new master?" she asked lightly. "Is that what men do now?"
The words hit Al's sore spot. His face turned red with rage. He lunged forward, intending to slap her.
Angel's eyes flashed. The system-enhanced reflexes kicked in. She sidestepped and slapped him hard across the face.
The sharp crack echoed across the altar. Al spun half around, blood dripping from his lip. He stared at her in disbelief.
Angel rubbed her stinging hand and stood tall, her aura so fierce that no one dared to approach.
Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, the High Oracle slammed his staff down, releasing a wave of pressure that silenced the crowd.
He looked at Angel deeply. He could see the truth, but he had to protect the high-tier Prime's reputation.
He cleared his throat, preparing to deliver his verdict. Everyone held their breath, waiting for Angel's death sentence.
