a P

a vacuum that was then filled by a ti

a ghastly, ashen gray. He looked at Elois, and for

wanted to deny it, to lie, but Garrison's g

her's shoulders, shaking her violently. "Mother!

firmed his guilt in t

cutting through the chaos. "

sacred relic used in the cente

Since the paternity of Esley Mercado is in question, he h

t my father's murderous face, then back

ching my lips. "But we of the Whi

sm, sending a shiver of fea

his father, let us ens

cribe. "I demand you invoke the anc

ren of unknown paternity, legally binding them to th

ard son of the mistress Elois Mercado. His name, his status, his future-all

he sound raw and animalistic. "

me, but froze a

d, his voice a de

wn cuckolding. He disowned the boy he had r

ibe scrambled to d

ur son! Please, believe me!" He crawled

m away with a snar

e way Esley had treated our people when

Elder Edgar, his hands shak

nvoked. Esley, from this day forth, is returned to the bloodline of his mother, Elois Mercado. H

e tapestry, Esley's name magically faded from the main branch, reappearing at

espairing howl escaping his lips before

her face a mask of ruin. It

ing uncontrollably. She was look

o triumph. Just a

the interest

of the Ancestral Hall were

e in. On their chests, they wore the