I took the wine glass Finn offered and spotted the faint residue of powder at the bottom, almost invisible.
"Thanks, Finn."
I lifted my face and smiled, bright and trusting, exactly the way I used to when I was little and would throw myself into his arms.
Maybe he remembered that too.
Finn's expression froze. Something flickered behind his eyes, a moment of struggle.
Then it was gone.
I drank it down. My head began to swim almost immediately. At the same time, my tongue grazed the capsule of lethal snake venom hidden inside my mouth.
One bite, and I'd be dead within ten seconds.
Finn steadied me. "Dizzy? Let me take you back to your room."
I nodded.
I caught the look the three of them exchanged.
The moment we stepped inside, I was placed on the bed. Then a wave of rancid stench hit me.
"The Harding heiress herself! We can die happy!"
"Get her!"
I smiled faintly and didn't resist. My gaze stayed fixed on the photograph hanging on the wall. The four of us, together, happy.
Then I bit down hard. The venom flooded my throat.
