Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 952

The night before the negotiations turned into utter chaos.

While the Westhaven envoys at Concord Lodge worked through a sleepless night, the officials at the Supreme Court convened for an emergency session.

Over at the Ministry of Justice, Aurora had been relentlessly pleading to see Barrett one last time since her confession. She even dropped to her knees, crying and begging for mercy.

Ever since Aurora was taken into custody, she had maintained a strong front. Now, all of that seemed to have crumbled. Patrick knew that after the negotiations, she would likely be handed over to Westhaven's envoys for punishment. A quick death would be a mercy, but she would most probably receive a painful and humiliating end.

Even death row prisoners were allowed a final meeting with their loved ones, so Patrick allowed Aurora and Barrett to meet tonight, but only within the confines of the prison cell.

Barrett was escorted to the cell under heavy guard. The officials opened the cell door, then stationed themselves outside, giving the two some semblance of privacy.

Of course, Barrett was thoroughly searched before entering. Any sharp objects that could allow Aurora to harm herself were strictly prohibited. If she ended up dead before being handed over to the Westhaven envoys, it would be impossible to explain.

Aurora was being held in solitary confinement in the women's prison. Her role in the case was too critical to risk anything happening to her, so Patrick had stationed heavy guards around her cell.

The flickering lantern light illuminated Barrett and Aurora's gaunt, haggard faces. The confident, triumphant air they had after the triumph at Victory Pass was now nowhere to be found. All that remained was exhaustion, desperation, and a palpable sense of defeat.

"I changed my testimony for you," Aurora said, staring at the man in front of her. His lack of resolve only deepened her despair, and her voice grew urgent, "I told them you knew nothing about what happened at Victory Pass. That should be enough to keep you safe."

"That's the truth. I truly didn't know," Barrett replied flatly.

"But before you were brought in, I insisted that Dominic was the mastermind behind the entire operation."

"That wouldn't have held up. It was just your word against his. Neither the king nor the Ministry of Justice will believe it."

Aurora's face twisted with fury and frustration, her features dark and menacing. "It doesn't matter! Westhaven didn't go through all this trouble just to see me dead. They've hated the Sullivan family for years. Guarding Victory Pass for generations has made the Sullivans a thorn in Westhaven's side. They are who Westhaven truly wants."