er

ter 24 hours, the pain turns

r, nursing a coffee pai

one b

Where

or for a 'reconciliation dinner

had ever been kind, though she w

ding enforcers. I needed t

Fi

ining room

elle on his right. I wa

tha said softly. "

manded. "Stop act

arrived. Steak w

me instantly.

fsb

ralyzing in small ones. A

e. She was smiling

eat this,

e," Julian slammed his

in it," I said lou

le

father, Carlo, grunted. "The c

the night!" Estelle cried. "T

hoved a piece of steak into h

lowed. "Delicio

econds

rabbed her throat. He

he..." She slid

n roared, leapin

e!" I shouted. "Sh

for my m

hard. I flew back, hitting the wall.

radling Estelle. "You poisoned he

t to eat it!" I

picked Estelle up. "Stay here, Ember.

ut. Chao

ying. My throat

n't eaten, but the s

all

close. Like breathi

the garden. Coll

In my ba

n't go

in my eyes. Dying

a shadow f

ting power like a

Piercing

allergy,"

lver syringe f

d it into

ngs expanded. I gasped,

rushed hair fr

electricity shot

olf sat up

a

, terrified.

rk velvet. "And it seems, little wo

. The Sup

t the garden. J

aid. "Survive, Ember.

he shadows just as

s found traces of wolfsbane on Estel

ked co

y?" He stepp

e lingering sta

ch me," I

ber

aving,

him. I had a f

there, a Kin