ra

ltures circling a celebration of their king. I stood by Dante's side, the d

spering something in his ear. He glanced at me, then gave

pproached me, a champ

ing with malice. "You look pale. A little toa

I said, my voice f

me. "It's a celebration. One little sip won't hurt."

e, a foolish, reflexive action. He was watching, his expre

it," I said, l

"Still playing the victim? You're a Br

g the champagne onto the front

uth in mock horror. "Oh, I am

ing the murmurs. He took the glass from Isabella's hand and

s voice was low, a silken threat against my

an act of defiance he would punish in ways I cou

making my stomach roil. I took the small

ough my veins with terrifying speed. My vision blurred. My legs turned to w

my abdomen, so viole

lurred, clutching my stomach as

tunneling. His face was a mask of shock. The blank indifference was gone, re

d, his voice a low gr

"I did what you were too weak to do. I solv

seen before. This wasn't part of his plan

cramp tore through me. I felt a horrifyin

ly to her, stepped in, blocking him. They moved toward me, their

thought directed at the monster wh

y echoing as they dragged me from the room. His eyes, filled

pain, a violation being seared into my soul. And a single, piercin