net

llroom, a silent, shadowy space with a single floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the cap

tion in the dark glass. A man w

od before me, her hands clasped, her eyes shining with a mixture of awe and nervous ho

was acid in

ha part, was furious. Her absence felt

regret, knew better. This wasn't a slight. It was a reckoning. It was

y, the amber liquid untouched. I held onto a sliver of irrational

a fool'

lent on the thick carpet. He didn't ne

e Hess family departed some time ago.

ered, the sound unnaturally loud in the silent room. Shards dug into my palm, and d

o one knee. "Al

ng was consumed by a tidal wave of fa

ift from the Goddess herself. And on

, every scene. And my leading lady

control was a poison I had never tas

ing blood onto the floor. My voice was

cking with Silas's. "And find out. Find out everything she did today. Eve

eline

tire spring just becau

hurricane. She'd taken one look at me lounging in the garden and declared it a crime against y

re in the commoners' district, a wide, grassy expanse teeming with life. Families were laugh

real than any noble's

t, a genuine, unforced smile spread across my face. This was so

nspiratorial whisper. "Why didn't you go to the Tower? I heard Bennet Carlisle was the ce

. "That kind of scene is just

ossip. "Good call! My mother told me he used to b

h my heart had turned to a bl

few years back, lost some influence. The Hopkins family broke the engagement faster than you can say '

d her nose

ource was validating. It solidified the truth I had always suspected

I said, my voice light. "I'd hate to

agreed. "Now, go o

ite, and it soared upwards, a silver crescent against the brilliant blue sky

first time, I felt the sun on my fa