The entire party descended into chaos.Aeliana knew, deep within herself, that she was the very reason behind it all.

Standing just behind Silvanus, her hand clung to his arm — trembling yet unwilling to let go. She was painfully aware that every pair of eyes in the room was on them. Silvanus, however, was unreadable. His grip tightened mercilessly around another man’s arm, forcing a pained cry to escape the latter’s lips.

Aeliana saw how the man’s face twisted in agony. She tried to ...