Calla was watching us now. She took a few steps in our direction. I locked eyes with her, shaking my head, “no.” Haden must have sensed something was wrong, because he gently pulled her back, tucking her behind him in a protective stance. With everything falling apart before me, I found some solace in the knowledge that Haden was a good guy. He’d take care of her, and I mentally gave him that task since I would be unable to do so. I didn’t know how my life would pan out with James and the whole world pitted against me.

“I love you,” I mouthed to Calla.

She looked at me curiously before saying, “I love you, too.”

Every head in the room turned toward the sound of a fist crashing down on the dinner table. When I glanced back at Calla, Haden was ushering her from the room.

Gorbon grabbed a young girl by the arm, pulling her within inches of his chubby face. She was the same girl who had helped me with the repair of my green gown—the one who had kept my real name a secret.

“Where is it, you foolish girl?” Gorbon asked, shaking her.

The girl stared at him, her eyes wide with fright.

“Answer me,” bellowed Gorbon.

Sarabeth rushed to stand beside the girl, giving Gorbon an expression seeking mercy.

“It’s gone,” cried the girl in a whisper that carried throughout the ballroom. “The Bound Book is gone.”

“Impossible,” Gorbon said, struggling to his feet under the weight of his large belly.

He gave up and nodded to Zander, who rose from the table and left the room.

It seemed everyone held their breath during the two minutes he was gone. Everyone was silent, except for James.

“You’re responsible for this, aren’t you?” he asked, a smile twisting on his lips. “This just gets better and better.”

Although I wanted nothing more than to come forward and make my case known, the eager expression on Gorbon’s face gave me pause. The girl was too close to him, still within striking distance, despite Sarabeth’s efforts to pull her away from the fat man.

“Please don’t,” I whispered, pleading with him. “Can’t we talk about this first?”

James grinned. “Don’t think so,” he said. He pulled me across the room, moving clumsily through the crowd of couples on the dance floor. Several boys pushed back when James bumped into them. He turned and sucker-punched one, knocking him to the floor. I hadn’t seen this side of James before, and it scared me.