rd. My ankle twisted, and I fell hard, my

was there, a blur of motion. He launched himself

red in mud and filth. He ignored his own sta

t happened?" he asked, hi

ring... she pushed me, and my ring fell in the w

arded glances, heard it in her hushed, tearful whispers to him late at night. She'd framed my quiet presence as lurking, my sad smiles as mockery. She had painted me as

ars. His gaze hardened, turning to ice. "Who pushed you?"

e me a quick, tearful glance. It

g in protest. "I didn't touch her," I

me, cold and dismissiv

want her ring," I arg

two hulking bodyguards who had appeared at the edge of the

ury. "You heard her. She wants the ring. If you

nstruction site. The implication was clear. I was the suspect, and I w

eath and sent shivers racking through my body. I tried t

said, his voice devoid of any emo

mouth. There was no point in fighting. I sank to my k

gh my clothes, and my fingers

atched me, his face unreadable. For a moment, I saw a flicker of conflict in his eyes, a w

d long set when my numb fingers finally clo

one from my sketchbook. The r

urple. I could barely stand. I clutched the ring

The sounds of laughter and playful

from my hand, our fingers brushed. He flinche

eep frown. "Stay away from Kandy from now

nued, the words a cruel mockery, "I

isper. "Isn't that what you

these games," he snarled. "I've heard the servants talking. I'v

.. he thought I was

elf, he let go, wiping his hand on his pan

"I only have room in

ssed it out the open window into the darkness. "She do

er, broken sound that might ha

decided my pa

looked normal before going down to dinner with the Allens. I couldn't

yes burned into my mind. I told myself it was just the shock of losing

creeping out into the yard, searching in the d

dn't stand the thought of it b

s I stood up, clutching the cold metal

ion was