lliance with her brother, no matter how fragil

feeling that they were being watched. Every step they took,

on the hilt of his sword. Edward, too, seemed on e

uments detailing the Meridans' treachery. But as they searched through

d with. It was as if someone had deliberately trie

tion etched on her face. "Someone's bee

careful. If we're being watched, it m

le. "We can't give up now.

s seedy underbelly. They spoke to informants, bribed guards,

thicker. Bella couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking int

ght they'd found a breakthr

s echoing through her mind. When she came to, she was lying in

" Bella asked, h

rned grim. "He's gone.

umbling around her. She had trus

aised the stakes. And B