nna

silk that she loved to flaunt despite her thin Half-Blood lineage. Even summoned into the blood-scented courtyard, she tilted her chin

pool of blood and teeth, Kristal's eyes flickered wit

seat, murmuring, "Mother Deloris," before tur

l said, a mocking curve playing on her painted lips without a shred of remorse. "As t

icy vortex of killing intent coiled behind my pupils. "I have never plotted

g to the maids behind her. "Listen to that! Eldest

rs let out muffled snickers, visibly relaxing

a subterranean chill that instantly snuffed the laughter in the courtyard. "A fool survives in

d Sister. Regarding the blood debt from the edge of the Dragonbone Ravine-will

e knocked your head against the river rocks. You grew greedy for wild fruit, scrambled past the boundary, an

e younger girl. "Sixth Sister. What about y

ning glower, the thirteen-year-old swallowed hard, her voice trembling like dry parchment. "I-I saw it with my own

You hear that, Eldest Miss? The truth is broad as daylight. Everyone knows i

The de facto mistress was clearly weighing the scales-if I tore Vivian's daughters

mother and daughters perform their pathetic farce while

y feet from the carved chair. "Do you truly believe falling

king against the flagstones with the slow,

like a tempered blade, "the solid granite slab overhanging the deepest dro

faltered by a fr

uits were tied to an overhanging dead branch right above that crumbling stone with fine si

drop of color drained from her chee

before Kristal and looking straight into her dilated pupils, "your hands came up behind

ruck by lightning, the smug a

riek of absolute terror and stumbled backwa

breathless silence, leaving the two sisters

er hand down onto the stone table. "Kristal! Beatrice! Is this monstrous accusation true?! Pl

nitial shock, Kristal bit down on her lip until dark blood

k at her! Eldest Sister's mind has been addled by the fall! Someone must have fed her these wil

do it, and we will never admit to your lies! Stop this pathetic tantrum, Eldest Sister! No