n she realized the door would open with a mere push-her lips pressed into a tight line.

d with an unnatural fire. Though her face was bloodless

lfway with one hand, then thr

th

y G

sp. It was as if a corpse's hand had

pression. Her lips were clamped t

d something, and shoved it against her chest, refusing to look at it. Then

ill deep

et and slipped out, back to her o

leep?

er bed. She knew no w

he sat in her armchair and pulled from

nder slips of clo

e knew that handwriting

ted her expression int

ursts. Then it stopped-still as de

the manuscript to the floor with a sn

mother's portrait. That soft, seren

my waters, the s

rang to

the papers-but barely looked at the

ruck her. One that wa

yes-but only after weighing her choices. To the unknowing, she migh

s, she had ma

room. Again, she stole the key. Again, she crept to the chamber of death. Again, she open

anuscript where

d the key to Theseus's pocket jus

room just in t

p into bed and fall i

me half-remembered nightmare. A glance at the c

door, rang a silver bel

ater, Lil

the wall, unaware

ppened next might h

this m

th the armchair. It wasn't crumpled or torn. She assum

to tidy her mis

perous parents. A financial ruin destroyed their lives. Her

r father's sister, a kind soul who denied herse

mily. He taught the children to read and write-rare skills

adored thei

Lumea envoy. He sailed from Leghorn wi

nd arranged for Lily to ente

a's wrath with silent grace, never complaining, alwa

ks, she sat by the table

ll cottage in Eryndor and whom she visited

thought of Theseus, Lo

d instantly sc

hts, she stood to c

gaze to the paper she

ughts, and, without intent-without

she was doing, she had

urned her b

palpitating flesh of the murdered man, in whose breast the dagge

lent shudder wr

ouldn't speak. The h

sed into the ch

t she couldn't place it. One thing

eling when her m

reeting, slipped on a robe, and

ind her, reachi

rything

yes locked

feet, eyes blazi

as all it to

eyes searing, and

gestured: I foun

ngers flew.

She signed back, Only

at, chest. She clenched her jaw to contain h

er gl

ame l

again. Swear yo

rembling hands: As I

ed her. Searc

ound

eak not one word of t

dded so

Antheia locked the pag

umed-silent, as if