“I didn’t do anything to betray or otherwise jeopardize our settlement!” I yelled, my throat feeling quite hoarse from all the bellowing I was doing.

Queen Petunia’s expression was emotionless. She simply watched me; her eyes reminded me of a dead person’s gaze, and it scared the dust out of me.

“So you deny coming into contact with humans?” she said, raising an eyebrow and waiting for my reaction.

“Of course I deny it!” I screeched, flapping my wings defiantly. I felt a small spark of triumph as one of my wings slapped the faces of the guards who were holding me.

“So, in your eyes, dear Ailen, who was it who drank at the nectar well and seduced the humans?” Queen Petunia asked, the ice in her voice chilling my heart.

Where was the kind Queen I knew? She used to be one of my closest friends!

“Seduced humans?” I exclaimed, bile rising in my throat at the thought. “I have never done such a dirty deed!”

“I shall hear no more. Throw her out.”

And so I was.