Amara's POV

A strange, unsettling laugh erupted from Isobel. It was a brittle, sharp sound that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. She shook her head at me, a mirthless smile on her face and for a moment, the fear in her eyes was replaced by a chilling, defiant glint.

"You really thought you had me, didn't you?" she said, her voice low and taunting. "You thought I was stupid."

I froze, the cold grip of confusion tightening around my heart. What was she doing? She had been ...