Lourenço’s POV

I leaned against the cold stone pillar, my lungs burning from the smoke and the even worse feeling of regret. Her voice was still stuck in my throat as if it were made of broken glass.

“When did you find out, Lourenço?”

That night, I didn’t have an answer for her. Not truthfully. It would have destroyed whatever was left of her. But I could tell from her eyes that she was aware.

When she gave me the letters, her hands shook, and she barely held on to them. Just touching them made my hands feel like they were on fire. Beatriz’s signature was present, with a web of lies covering every sentence. False claims. Forged seals. It was a carefully planned act of betrayal that looked like following royal rules.

I had allowed it to take place.

Until now.

Now, I was ready to set everything on fire. Literally.

If Beatriz wanted to be queen, I’d ensure she had a funeral worthy of royalty.

The plan was completely crazy. If just one ember was misplaced, we would either die or be exiled and never allowed to speak again by the Court. But Isadora? She didn’t show any fear. She appeared as if she had nothing more to lose.

Are you absolutely sure you want to do this? I leaned close to her and whispered as we hid in the tunnel under the estate. The earth seemed to moan in sadness before we even started.

She gave a single nod. “There’s no other choice, Lourenço.”

Once we begin, it will be easy to see how it works.

“I will keep going,” she replied. Now, her voice was firm and clear enough to dispel any doubts. “If we don’t end it tonight, it will never end.”

We both lit the torch. The dry hay seemed to be waiting for a chance to die.

In a matter of seconds, the room above, which was an old storage chamber behind the wine cellar, began to fill with smoke.

I whispered, “Go,” and gently pushed her toward the tunnel. “Don’t think about what happened before.”

She didn’t.

As soon as she went into the shadows, I paused. Just a moment. Long enough to cause pain.

I ran toward the exit, allowing the smoke to surround me.

I fell into the chaos outside, my shirt ripped, and soot was smeared across my face like war paint.

“FIRE!” I screamed. “SOMEONE HELP—SHE’S STILL INSIDE THE HOUSE!”

People from all over the estate rushed to the scene, shouting as they went. The sound of water buckets clanging could be heard. The panic set in right away, which was good. Real.

Beatriz came out in her silk robe, with mascara smudged on her face. A lovely lie.

“Where is she?” she shouted. “Where’s Isadora”?

“She didn’t survive the accident!” I let out a gasp and held my ribs. “She was found in the west wing!”

Beatriz paused for a brief moment.

It was just a half second too late.

After that, the wailing began. Crocodile tears. A performance that would be honored by the Crescent Court.

She fell to the ground in the mud, crying and swearing at the sky, hoping the gods would see her misfortune.

I almost spat on her feet.

Monster.

Isn’t this what you hoped for?

Here you go.

Someone put their hand on my arm.

Rafael.

His face was as white as ash, and his eyes looked like they’d been sucked out. “Please tell me it’s not true,” he whispered. “Please tell me she is still alive.”

“I—I tried.” My voice cracked into pieces. “I wasn’t able to save her.”

He took a step back.

Good. Let him experience what she went through when he walked away.

Let them all stay in the grave they made for her.

Tonight, Isadora Valez survived.

She escaped.

However, I still had more to do.

When the fire was out and the sky was filled with red smoke, I quietly entered Beatriz’s room.

She was sitting there, brushing her hair as if nothing had happened. Like she hadn’t just pretended to be sad when she buried our sister.

I whispered, “You cried beautifully out there.”

She jumped. “Lourenço, please don’t sneak up on me.”

Have you ever thought about what your tears taste like when they’re real? I moved closer and asked.

She looked at me with a squint. “What do you mean by that?”

“I’m saying... I am aware of what you did.

Her hand stopped moving in the middle of what she was doing.

I know you used blackmail against Rafael. I am aware that you sent the fake letters. I know you were the reason the alliance broke up.

“You don’t sound well,” she said in a cold voice. “Perhaps the smoke...”

“Don’t pretend with me.” I stopped her from talking. You always enjoyed being the queen, Beatriz. I almost forgot to mention one thing.

“What is that?”

“Queens are capable of feeling pain just as anyone else.”

She stood up, towering over me, with her chin held high. However, her hands were trembling.

“You have nothing to back up your claim.”

I don’t require evidence. I have something stronger—your fear.

Her laugh sounded dry. “You’re bluffing.”

“Am I?” I got close enough to notice the twitch in her jaw. If you touch her again, I won’t burn the place down. I’ll set you on fire.”

She didn’t change her expression. Yet, her eyes glanced, only for a moment, at the fireplace.

That was all I was looking for.

I left her alone, shivering in her satin, as the sense of power she had vanished like ash.

Even after putting out the fire, the situation remained unsafe.

The situation was far from safe.

I hadn’t burned the entrance to the tunnel, which was under the estate.

Too risky. Too permanent.

That meant there was a chance someone could discover it.

Rafael, maybe.

Or worse, Beatriz.

I tightened my jaw. She was making her way into Black Hollow, a place no one with their senses would enter. Feral lands. Old magic. The ones who didn’t obey the laws of Crescent.

What if she didn’t survive?

What if someone was watching her?

I ruffled my hair with my hand. I couldn’t see things that way. Isadora was intelligent. She’d survive.

She had no choice.

But as soon as I stepped outside to take a breath and relax, a high-pitched scream echoed through the night.

A scream echoed through the night.

High-pitched.

Female.

It is far too much.

I felt a chill run through my body.

“Isadora?” I whispered.

No answer.

After that, I relocated.

I ran. I ran down the hill, across the gardens, and into the trees as if the devil were after me.

The scream could have been her own.

At that point, everything went wrong.

She wasn’t the only one in the wilderness.

Not anymore.