The soldiers flanking the corridor stiffened. Not one of them moved. The sound of it — four wet, percussive cracks in rapid succession — hung in the marble hallway like an echo that refused to die.
She stared up at me in horror. "Nara, what kind of trick is this?"
"Let me go! You're crippling a made woman in front of the Boss himself. Do you have a death wish?!"
I didn't spare her another glance. My grip tightened on Elara's wrist, and my voice stayed flat. "Are you going to pull the Original Oaths out yourself and hand them over, or do you need me to do it for you?"
Elara's face went white as parchment. Her hand drifted to the hollow of her throat, fingers closing around the pendant that hung there — the one that had belonged to me in another life. She turned instinctively to Aldric for help.
Only then did Aldric snap out of his stupor.
His expression hardened. Killing intent flooded his gaze.
"Girl. Crippling someone without lifting a finger. Your reach is impressive, I'll grant you that."
"But no matter how convincing the act, you are not the Ferro heir."
"You don't have the power to face me."
"So I'll give you two choices. End your own life, or wait for me to put you so far in the ground no one will ever find you."
I looked at Aldric with something close to pity, and let every syllable land.
"Husband. You've already buried me once."
"Do you really think it would work a second time?"
