Page 170 of Esperance

“I did. And though the Rising took credit for Darrin’s death, I’m the one whoactuallykilled him. He was getting suspicious. And jealous. The attack by those rebels was the perfect excuse to kill him.” Her head tilted to the side. “I didn’t kill Rivard, though. I’m guessing that was Tam, and that she tried to frame me. Not that she knew it was me, of course. I fooled all of you.”

Amryn lifted a staying hand. “Marriset, you don’t have to—”

“I’m not Marriset.”

Amryn stared at her.Of course.She was the imposter Carver had warned might be among them. Amryn had completely forgotten about it in the madness of last night.

“I did a good job being her, though, didn’t I?” Marriset asked. “It’s too bad it can’t be a permanent thing. Outside this temple, someone is sureto know the real Marriset.”

“You killed her,” Amryn whispered in horror. “And her entire escort.”

“Very good, Amryn.” She sighed a little. “Someone wasboundto notice eventually when Marriset’s father didn’t return to Palar, but people disappear on long journeys every day. Who knows what might have happened to poor Lord Navarre? But with Esperance being sealed off from the rest of the empire, we were fairly confident no one here would learn about his disappearance until the year was out.”

“We?” Amryn asked, seizing on that vital word.

Marriset—or rather, the woman who hadpretendedto be Marriset—smiled. “Myself and the man who hired me.”

“Who hired you?”

Her chilling smile only widened. “He’s paid me a great deal not to share that information.”

Amryn fought a shiver. “Whoareyou?”

“I’m whoever I’m hired to be. At the moment, I’m the person who’s going to kill you and leave this haunting little message.” She plucked a piece of paper out of her pocket. “This is not over.A little overdramatic, but I’m just doing what I was paid to do. Make a scene. Disrupt everything. Create discord among the couples. Destroy this entire venture.”

“Did the Rising send you?” Felinus asked.

“No.” She flicked the piece of paper onto the chair beside her. “Let’s just say it was another interested party. And I’ve been told this is my final job. Apparently, the fear is that Carver might want to cling to Esperance and the emperor’s dream, since he’s such a perfect soldier. But if his wife is killed?” Marriset lifted a shoulder. “He’s just enamored enough that he’ll want revenge—he won’t care about the peace anymore.”

Amryn glanced toward the bedroom. Her knife was there—she’d found it in the bottom of a trunk while searching for the amulet. Carver must have hidden it there. If she could reach it . . .

Marriset looked between them. “Who’s first? I don’t have a preference.”

Felinus grasped Amryn’s wrist and yanked her behind him.

Marriset rushed forward.

There wasn’t time to get a knife.

Amryn darted around Felinus, ready to tackle Marriset, but the door was kicked open, and Ivan ran in, blades out.

Marriset whirled, snarling as she attacked Ivan.

Blades flashed in a vicious flurry as the two fought violently. Amryn felt the pain when Ivan’s arm was cut.

Marriset was an assassin.

Ivan was a Sibeten Wolf.

It was a vicious, brutal fight, but it ended the moment Ivan’s blade slammed into Marriset’s gut.

Amryn gasped as Marriset cried out.

Ivan’s eyes blazed, his emotions just as fierce. “That’s for Cora.”

Marriset’s knees buckled. She slumped against the wall, the hilt still sticking out of her stomach. Her breaths rattled, and the blood slowly drained from her face as she peered up at him. “You . . .”

“I figured it out.” He sank to one knee in front of her, still holding one blade. “It didn’t make sense that Tam killed Cora. It bothered me all night. Why would the rebels have so many different plans? Why didn’t they have justonegoal? Why be so disorganized in their attacks?” He leaned in. “Unless someoneelsekilled Cora and left that note. Just as someone else poisoned the ladies’ tea.You.”