My heart started pounding.

“This is my sister’s. Why do you have it?”

I could barely get my words out.

“Kaavi, she—gave it to me. I’d—you know, I’d spilled something on myself, and she wanted me to have it.”

“You’re such a liar! I knew it! I told them you’d have something to do with this! Just wait—”

And with that, Tehani stormed out, T-shirt and all.

What the hell had I gotten myself into?

“Thank you, Miss Bloom. We are going to have to ask you to please stay in your room until further notice.”

“Stay in my room?” My heart was a wild animal now. Jumping and pounding and trying to escape out of my chest. “But I was going to check out soon.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but it is imperative that you do so. I’m told that the investigators will be arriving soon to handle this situation.”

Oh my goodness, I couldn’t believe this was happening.

This was not the plan. This was not the plan at all.

“How do you know she’s missing?” I asked. “Maybe she went for a walk? Or, well, have you checked the groom’s room?” I made sure to lower my voice for that last bit, so the security guards couldn’t hear me.

“Trust me, Miss Bloom. She hasn’t gone for a walk. There were—and I don’t mean to alarm you—signs of a struggle in her room. Right now, I’m afraid we have to believe the worst . . .” His voice trailed off and he eyed my hand. I glanced down to see what he was staring at.

I’d washed away the blood, of course, but the bruise on my knuckles was a little harder to get rid of.

“Anyway, thank you for your time. Once again, please stay in your room until you’re called for questioning.”

“Okay.” It was all I could manage.

I could barely breathe.

“And Miss Bloom—?” The manager hesitated near my door.

“Yes?”

“We have security stationed on every corridor. So please do be kind enough to adhere to our safety measures.” He kept his eyes firmly on my face until just before he turned around, when I saw him try to sneak another glance at my knuckles. I held my hand behind my back—out of sight. I wasn’t an idiot.

They shut the door on their way out, and I went back into the bathroom. There was a gentleman’s grooming kit on the sink counter. I took out the razor and pried out one of the thin metal blades from its plastic casing.

Dropping the lid shut on the toilet, I sat down, bringing my right foot up to rest on the porcelain so I could reach. I took another deep breath and plunged the blade into the side of my big toe. It stung and throbbed, and a livid drop of blood swelled and burst onto the tile below. That was better. I couldn’t risk any more damage to my hands, after all.

I finally allowed myself to feel angry.