Page 102 of Third Offense

A Noir guard had juststruckme.

King Vasilios’s and Queen Gaia’sdaughter.

Their guards would never strike me under any circumstances.

This… this isn’t right.

I glanced around, noting a streak of blood and ash splattering across the walls, the mixture not having been there a moment ago.

How hard had that guard hit me?

But I wasn’t given a chance to ask or to react because the air shimmered in the next moment.

And all hell broke loose as Sorin, Zian, and Novak started spinning around the room in a macabre dance, slaying everyone and everything in their path.

I ducked down by Raven and Ketos, stunned by their decision tomurdereveryone in the room. But I knew Novak. Something had prompted him to act.

Something had…

My brow furrowed.The ash…

There was ash everywhere.

Similar to the reformatory.

How is that possible?

“Layla, I know this is hard to hear,” Iston suddenly said, his nearness startling me.

What…?

I’d been looking at the carnage, but Iston drew my attention to him by placing his hand on my shoulder. It was cold.Too cold.

“You’re in shock, but if you need proof, there’s video evidence. Come with me to the security room.” He pointed at a camera in the ceiling corner I didn’t recall seeing before. “Everything’s documented. I’ll show you. Come with me.”

I don’t need to,I thought.Because Auric wouldn’t do this to me.

And if he had real proof, he wouldn’t have needed to take Netiri’s statement in front of me.

No. This is all bull shit. It’s all lies.

The refreshing scent of ambrosia on the floor heightened, the fragrance only further confirming my instincts. Because it was still laden with wintergreen.

And I didn’t believe it was because Auric had stabbed him.

No.

Their magic hadmingledsomehow.

I could sense it.

Iston’s grip tightened. “Princess.”

I yanked away from him. “No.” I wouldn’t listen to another word out of his mouth. I wouldn’t listen to Netiri. I wouldn’t listen toanyof them.

Because they werewrong.

Two guards suddenly rushed toward Raven, making me yell her name in warning, only for them to bounce off of an invisible barrier.