A beat passed in dead silence.

Then the hall erupted. Nobles leaped to their feet. Captain Lindle dropped the chain attached to Ren’s and Zofi’s manacles and stared at Akeylah in almost comical confusion.

Audrina, on the other hand, reached for her wrist with a scowl. “Traitorous bitch,” she snarled. Her bloodletter sprang into her fist. “She’s the one who cursed him,” Audrina howled, though the shouts in the hall nearly drowned out her voice. “Akeylah killed Andros. She’s the murderer.”

“Arrest her,” Akeylah told Captain Lindle calmly.

He started forward.

Audrina leaped backward out of his reach. “Florencia caused Burnt Bay. Zofi murdered Prince Nicolen. These girls are murderers and traitors, all of them!”

“Lady Audrina, please.” The captain stalked after her. Cornered her on the far end of the stage. “Don’t make this any more difficult than it needs to be.”

Most of the Great Hall stood now, craned their necks and stepped out into the aisles for the best view of what was happening on the dais.

“You’ll pay for this,” Audrina growled in Akeylah’s direction. Quick as a flash, she sliced her arm through the fabric of her gown.

Akeylah held her breath.

Her hands tingled. She looked down and her heart skipped in fear—tiny curls of black had started under her fingernails. As she watched the tendrils inched up her fingertips.

But then the black retreated. Her fingers went gray, then returned to their normal golden brown. She glanced up and saw Audrina’s eyes widen with fury.

We did it, Akeylah thought. We bound her.

Captain Lindle grabbed Aud’s arm. Other Talons had stormed the platform, and a pair caught Ren and Zofi each. Audrina glared death in Akeylah’s direction, practically spitting. “Akeylah is the one you need to arrest,” she shouted. “She killed our father, not me.”

“It’s over, Audrina,” Akeylah said, voice pitched soft enough that only those on the dais could hear. “You can’t hurt anybody now. Please, let’s end this without any more bloodshed.”

She held Audrina’s eye until the other girl broke. Akeylah watched her take stock. Look from Akeylah to Zofi and finally settle on Ren, gaze still narrowed. Suddenly, without warning, Audrina tore an arm from the Talons’ grip. She reached down to drive a fist into her own leg. Akeylah didn’t understand, not until Zofi shouted and she noticed a red stain begin to pool through Audrina’s gown.…

30

Florencia

Everything was going according to plan. Their shield worked—Audrina couldn’t beat all three of them combined.

But then Audrina did something else, hit her leg the way Ren had seen Zofi do, down in Audrina’s chambers. Blood pooled along Aud’s skirts, and everything changed.