chapter 51

Blood.

It’s blood on my hands, across the front of my gown. I cast my gaze to my sisters, first; Clare and Tara are both wide-eyed, but I see no obvious wounds on them.

The acolyte is on the ground, a throwing knife lodged in her spurting throat.

“Protect the queen!” someone shouts.

It’s Nathan.

I throw my hand out to grab him. I need an anchor in the chaos. He would never let them hurt me, never let—

He grunts in pain and staggers back. More blood splashes across my gown and I scream.

Someone grabs me, and I’m torn from Nathan’s side. The last thing I hear him say is, “Get the queen to safety!”

“What’s going on?” Tara cries as the thrall guard drags us into the empty ball room.

I look back at the crowd as the doors close and fear claws up my throat.

“Take them to the residence,” the head guard orders. “I want shutters, spike strips, nobody leaves through the front gate.”

I blink at him, thinking he’s talking to me, but he’s speaking into his wire. Someone grabs me by the arm and phys