He shook his head. ‘I can say that he attacked Bethan, and I was doing my job. I’ll go back to Zakros. I don’t care, but I’m not lying.’

‘They won’t know you killed him.’ Elnora sucked in a breath. ‘We hide the body in the closet. You take Sam out, feign that he is drunk, I will stay here. I will tell my parents it was me who did it.’

Body. The way she spoke was too clinical.

Canden groaned; it was only a matter of time before someone would come in.

‘My parents can’t risk me. I’m their only heir.’

‘Kellan don’t,’ Bethan seethed. ‘You will be sent back if they find out.’

‘We don’t have a choice,’ Elnora said. ‘Trust me, I was going to kill him either way, for Sam.’

‘This is murder, Elnora,’ Bethan fought.

‘He deserves it,’ she snapped.

They were gone from the party for too long. The Rennigans would start asking questions soon. Tharin saw them enter this room.

Kellan swore and reached for his dagger. It wouldn’t be the first time he had killed someone, and it wouldn’t be the last.

He plunged the dagger into Canden’s chest in the same hole as the shard. He gargled, arching his back. Canden took a breath; the last one he would breathe.

Canden’s eyes blinked shut, then fell open.

Bethan sobbed when it was done.

Kellan picked himself up, brushing off the remnants of glass.

Elnora chanted, and the shards put themselves back together, creating a vase again. The fragment of glass that rested in Canden’s chest even removed itself from him. His entire chest tore open completely; all three of them gagged at the sight.

He handed Elnora the bloodied dagger, kissing the hilt goodbye. She shoved it in her purse.

Elnora was already helping him lift Canden to place him in the closet.

Kellan stared down at the blood oozing out of his chest, and he could have sworn he saw it bubble. He looked closer, and it ceased. The light in the room glared at him. He snuck a glance behind him; he could have sworn he saw a golden glint come from Bethan’s hands. He shrugged.

He turned away, locking the door behind him.

Elnora worked in silence as Small magic came from her fingertip. She touched the marble floor and somehow manipulated it to look clear of blood. She got up and did the same to Kellan’s clothes.

Sam was fully awake, slurring something to Bethan. Her pupils were utterly black; she looked crazed. He could hear her heart beating out of her chest. Kellan walked over and touched Bethan’s shoulder; she flinched away from his touch. And he regretted everything.

‘He was bleeding,’ she whimpered. ‘On his head.’