Barlo

, his small body barreling forward with the single-minded focus of

of my borrowed silk gown. The impact sent a fresh wave of pain through

lief. But as I tried to wipe the cream from my dress, a sharp sting made me gasp. A small shard from the po

e emerald silk a dark, ugly brown. My body swayed, and a

stitched, did you?" he hissed, his voice a

uch. I pulled my arm away, the rejection stark and absolute. A

drama. He held up a single, glittering ear

nd and emerald teardrop caught the light, and a gasp tore fro

uldn'

d. "Where did you get that?" I

ned innocence. "What are you tal

ripping from a place of deep, primal fury. "

ilent, their eyes wide with

voice trembling with a mixture of grief and rag

my fingers closing around the familiar, cool metal. The surro

That poor girl

heirloom! It was part of Kath

palm. There, on the back of the setting, was a tiny, almost invisible

Kath

ring, my mother' s most prized possession, was identical to a Macdonald famil

n to form in my mind, a puzzle clicki

gned innocence to a mask of pure fu

e!" she snarled, lun

r hands locked on the tiny piece of jewelry,

f

nterpiece cake, a monstrous confection sup

e!" Ambro

screa

himself forward, his arms wrapping around Katharine, twisting his body to shie

et m

rosting, sponge, and agonizing pain. One of the sharp metal suppor

ne to her feet, his hands fluttering over her, checki

s voice laced with venom. "Causing a scene,

leading Katharine and Leo

. With a strength I didn't know I possessed, I pulled myself out of the wreckage of the cake, the metal rod tearing at my flesh as I moved. I ignored th

clinic. I handed the doctor the earring,

st," I said, my

the Aguilar mansion. The house was dark and silent, but a single lamp was

he said, his voice dangerously low. "You e

e man I loved believed I was a monster. The woman

ome humility," he decreed, his voice the cold, final

hing me. Loc

out, and I crumpled to the floor. The last thing I saw before dar

rom the

uld be ready