"Her life."
His screaming goes thin. Reedy. He's running out of air.
"Renan."
"Yeah."
"His family. Make sure they're compensated."
Taren's head snaps up. Hope again. Still hope. Incredible.
"Really?"
"The daughter didn't sell anyone. She doesn't deserve to starve because her father was a coward."
I wipe the blade on his shirt.
"But you." I rest the blade against his cheek. Almost gentle. "You made a choice."
I drive the knife through his eye.
His body jerks. Once. Twice.
Still.
The thread disappears.
I leave the knife where it is. Embedded in his skull. Let whoever cleans this up see exactly what happens.
"Clear the room." My voice is steady. My hands are covered in blood. "I want double guard rotation on the private wing. I want eyes on every access point. Anyone who isn't essential gets moved to the outer buildings. Now."
Renan is already moving. Snapping orders. The elite file out. Body disposal. Family notification. Security protocols.
I don't hear any of it.
Coin knows.
They know where she sleeps. Which wing. How many guards.
My hands are shaking. I look at them. Covered in Taren's blood. Trembling.
I turn.
Iowyn is still by the door. She hasn't moved. Her face is pale. Her hands are clasped in front of her. She's watching me with those forest green eyes.
She just watched me torture a man. Watched me laugh while I did it. Watched me tell him I count her breaths in the dark.
She heard that. She knows now.
I wait for her to run.
She doesn't.
"Let's go." My voice scrapes. "Back upstairs."
She nods. Pushes off the wall. Follows me without a word.
The corridors blur.
