on of falli

y upward. Her lungs heaved, desperate f

.. ha

nds flew to her throat, th

oken bones. No

nging to her skin. The air was warm and

ed aroun

cluttered with crystal perfume bottles. The

d bedroom in the Cr

to the digital clock

ber

it was thr

r creak

High

, her heart sk

a glass of water and a pill bottle. Her face was round

iona from the press when the s

Fiona ch

. She scrambled out of bed and ran to her

t in time to catch Fiona. "It's okay. I know the doctor's news

ity diagnosis. The fake diagnosis Bradley's doc

the solid warmth of her body.

that," Fiona whisper

back of her hand. The tears stopped as quic

tone in her gut, but she pushed it d

e changing. It was lower now

Fiona's demeanor. "He... he is at the Charity G

asked. "What is happ

ews says he is in critical condition. They sa

blood

It was

to isolation. His weakness allowed Bradley to seize total control of the military. After Bradley discarded Fiona, she spent two years locked away in a remote villa. Her only companions were books. She devoured the Orozco family's private lib

ed a weapon. She needed a mons

eded D

oving toward the hidden safe behind a painting o

ammered. "You're grounde

. She grabbed Yan

k at

nto Fiona's e

dead," Fiona said. "Do exactly as I sa

g in Fiona's face that terrified her.

pulled low over her face. She had a scalpel and a se

blind spots of the cameras-she had spent three yea

s. The rain was starting to fall, just like the night she d

all and flagged down a

ate," she tol

was seen comforting the Duchess Icy Duffy today, whose husband, Duke Asher, is curr

t the blurring city lights. A

se, Bradley. It w

ess. High walls, electrified fe

ff a mile away. She walked th

idling at the rear ga

Literally. He needed tons of ice to ke

iver's clipboard. As he walked to the fron

and exhaust filling her nose. The truck lurched f

ng dock, she dropped down a

smelled of ozone and something

l of Pyr

o patrols, her heart hammering agains

ng. The windows were fros

oor-sloppy, or maybe the staff

ipped

zing. Mist curled al

ir on her arms stand up. A low, gu

heavy double doors a

. Blocks of ice were s

the room, chained to a metal

t, unnatural red, steam rising from his shoulde

as the door

k. No whites. Just pools of