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Chapter 80

Lotte

The flare dissipated in the sky as Nora and Modesty fell to their knees, both crying out in pain. Across the garden, Clemency folded in on herself with a shout of agony.

Lotte’s gaze shot to her grandmother. But Mercy was on her knees too.

Something terrible was happening.

Patience Holtzfall was calling for a healer. For a knight. For someone to help her daughter.

The knights.

Lotte had always known the knights to stand between the Holtzfalls and even the smallest hint of danger. Lotte searched in the crowd, looking for Theo. And there, she saw a flash of uniform. And for one moment, she thought it was him. But even as she watched, his face shifted ever so slightly into one she didn’t know.

“On my signal!” the figure in the knight’s uniform called out.

And suddenly dozens of servants and attendants were snapping to attention. Dropping their trays of champagne, weapons appearing in their hands.

Grace’s hands found Lotte’s, a desperate pulse of urgency running through her mother’s mind. Now was their chance. She had failed to escape with her daughter all those years ago. But she could escape now. She was running and pulling Lotte after her.

The knight pulled his fist down to his side, a silent signal.

And then the attack started.