“We need to get you somewhere secure,” Zevran says, his voice rough.
Together, the three of them guide me through the chaos toward the exit, forming a protective wall around me. Ren on my left, Zevran on my right, Lord Castor clearing the path ahead.
Behind us, the beautiful masquerade lies in ruins.
Zevran is the first to talk as we hurry down a corridor and away from the gardens. “There’s a secure room in the Mars wing, we can regroup there.”
“Jupiter’s wing is closer,” Lord Castor counters, his hazel eyes scanning the corridor for threats. “And I’ve got more people I trust guarding it.”
“Mars has better structural reinforcements?—”
“Both of you stop,” Ren cuts in, her voice sharp with command. “There’s a safe room on level three. Neutral territory, reinforced doors, security I’ve already vetted.Move.”
She doesn’t wait for agreement, just starts guiding me through the crowds. Lord Castor and Zevran fall into formation on either side, creating a protective wall as we push through. Guards are trying to restore order, but the area is still in chaos – nobles demanding explanations, servants clearing bodies, the Cardinals shouting orders about finding Lucien.
We move quickly through halls that grow progressively more utilitarian, leaving behind the elegant facade of the public spaces. The walls here are cold metal, the lighting harsh and functional.
Ren keys us into the safe room and immediately begins checking exits, sight lines, potential vulnerabilities. Lord Castor positions himself by the door, war hammer still gripped tight in his hand. Zevran secures the alternate exit.
“Sit,” Ren orders, pointing me toward a chair. “I need to check you properly for injuries.”
“I’m fine.”
“Sit anyway.”
I sit. My legs are shaking now that the adrenaline is fading, my hands trembling as I try to unfasten the torn remains of my gown. The golden fabric is slashed in three places. Looking at the damage, I realize how close I came to dying tonight.
Ren produces a small emergency kit from a cabinet in the room and kneels in front of me. “Arms up.”
She helps me out of the ruined gown, leaving me in the simple slip beneath. The vulnerability of it – being half-dressed in front of three people who just fought for my life – should embarrass me. Instead, it just makes everything feel more real.
“Shallow cut on your forearm,” Ren reports, her fingers gentle as she examines the wound. “Bruising across your ribs. Probably from hitting the ground. Anything else hurt?”
“No. I don’t think so.”
She produces antiseptic and begins cleaning the cut. The sting brings tears to my eyes, but I don’t pull away.
Lord Castor shifts his weight from the door. “What are the chances thatfourassassins were able to slip through the Cardinals’ security, remain undetected, then ambush you all at once?”
“Inside job,” Zevran agrees grimly. He’s cleaned some of the blood from his hands but his formal jacket is still torn and splattered. “This wasn’t some spontaneous attack.”
“Who has those kinds of resources?” I ask, though I suspect I already know the answer.
“Any of the House leaders,” Zevran says. “Or external forces with significant backing. Hell, even the Cardinals could have arranged it.”
“The Cardinals are currently tearing apart the arena looking for Lord Lucien,” Ren says flatly, applying a bandage to my arm with careful precision. “They’ve sealed all exits, mobilized every guard.”
“They won’t find him,” I say quietly. “Not unless he wants to be found.”
Zevran’s grey eyes meet mine. “You sound certain of that.”
“I am.”
He studies my face for a long moment, and I can see him calculating – weighing what he knows against what he suspects. “Thetiming wasn’t random. Waiting until you’d danced with multiple House leaders, until you’d made public alliances. Someone wanted to send a message about the cost of supporting you.”
“Or they wanted to eliminate me before I could secure more votes,” I counter.
“If they’d wanted you dead, they would have used poison or explosives,” Ren says bluntly, straightening up from her crouch. “This was theatre – designed to be seen, to create fear.”
