“All executions from this point forward will be a public promise that I will protect this city from evils like her.” Lafontaine stood proudly at the edge of the caravan. “From this night on, you will—”
Something fluttered in the dark above them.
A butterfly.
The world stopped.
It danced in elegant circles against the night sky.
All eyes followed the creature as it landed on the corner of the tower.
Nik recognized the craftsmanship instantly because it wasn’t a butterfly at all. It was paper.
The boy from the Joyaux watched Elara from the edge of the crowd as he released another from his cupped palms. This one landed on the platform in front of her.
Her eyes sparkled.
“Execute her.”
The guard released the rope.
Nik’s screams were lost with the crowd’s.
Thwak!
The blade froze mid-fall.
Someone had buried a knife in the rope, pinning it to the beam. The crowd gasped and parted, making room for Nicolette to stand at the police line.
“This monster has lied to you for decades.” She pointed another shimmering dagger at Lafontaine. “He has controlled you, starved you, and now tried to murder one of our own.”
The police drew their weapons.
“The Restes isn’t our only home. Anespérer is.” She turned. “It’s time to take her back.”
The closest officer cocked his gun only to fall with a sickening thud. A bloodied rock skittered across the cobblestones, thrown from an unknown hand.
A single action.
A single brave soul.
That’s all it took for the war to begin.
The people surged over the police line, breaking upon them with fists and makeshift weapons. There were no rebels, only people fightingto reclaim their home from the wealthy few who’d stolen her over the years. A true revolution.
Nik shot toward the guard fumbling with the stuck rope. They collided and toppled until Nik was on top. With a swift jab, he brought his shackles down on the man’s nose. He did it again, and again until he stopped moving and Nik’s hands were sticky.
He stared at the mess.
Stared at the mangled face beneath him until Elara’s muffled cries pulled him away.
He helped her up and removed the gag.
Fernand dropped a strangled body to the platform.
“What the hell do we do now?” Elara asked.
“We get these off, and we finish this.” Fernand whistled and slid to the edge of the platform, where a woman laden with muscles slammed the chain of his shackles open with a hammer. “Let’s go!”
