ella
anor's sharp nod, the two Carson sol
as a grotesque tableau. Caitlin was sprawled on the floor, her emerald dress torn and bunched a
gh the Outfit wives. The silenc
er bloodshot eyes found me standing calmly among the crowd. Th
, guttural sound. She scrambled up and lunged at
caught her wrist mid-air. My grip was like a steel vice, locking her in place. I stared into
ush to cover her daughter's exposed skin; instead, she dragged Caitlin dow
em of Eleanor's dark skirt. "Isabella, she... she was always jealous of Cait
whispers among the wives started instantly,
wolf-headed cane and struck the floor once. *Clack.* The corridor fe
curtsy. "Nonna" (Grandmother),
panic. "You pushed me in with that man and l
sted attendant who had been standing right beside the soldiers, spoke up. Her
ked, my Lady. It open
. The first crack in Caitlin's li
. "Even if it wasn't locked, you held it shut! I was pulling on
d-the very hand she had pinned to a mattress with a stiletto just hours a
locked ont
aping wound. The skin was pale, sm
lawless hand, her voice dropping to a horrified, tremblin
dark abyss of Damien Moretti's eyes, and the surprisingly gentle touch of his fingers as he applied that unknown, mi
ely into her own madness. I met my grandmother's calculating gaze, stepp
rds hang in the air as Gina and Caitlin turned ashen. "I admit, I woke up shortly after I lay down. I w
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