na De

e corridor leading to th

k velvet box. With a slow, deliberate movemen

o a mirror shine, with the De Luca

ap under her chin. His fingers lingered on her jawlin

," he sa

left m

et for me. It was a symbol of my acceptance into th

t was sitting on the top shelf,

It wasn't just about the objects. It was the

feel the wind in my face, to outrun the suffocati

oked at me with concern, stepping forward to assist, but I waved them off. My hands were sha

ssandro and Aria were at the far

f her hooves pounded against the earth,

ahead. It was dangerous. It

I whi

r. For a second, I felt

heard

p holding my s

addle slid sideways viol

he grou

out of me. A sickening cra

-hot fire consuming my body,

Through the haze of agony, I looke

ro hadn'

to Aria. He hadn't

ght here, and he wouldn't notice un

med, my voice r

n over, hi

s private medical wing. My leg was

ng a bouquet of generic lilies. The kind y

said, placing the flowers on the

" I said, my voice

ismissive roll of his broad shoulde

cal. He was fulfilling a duty. There was no worry in his ey

said. "I ha

alke

ke. I stared at the ceiling, cou

ices in th

's voice drifted through the door. "She's

voice was low, urgent. "It wasn't an accident. A

art s

lence. A long,

n," Alessandro said finally. "Katarina embarra

t b

d let

o

d over me. It started in my t

k

ed my saddle. He knew s

didn'

her. He was allowi

gle tear leaked out, ho

e it away. I

n't throw the vase of

ark, and I made a pr

rd about this. I would not

he loudest scream of