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“Because that photo you found of your sister in the Black Chapel was taken on a night like this. Our family organizes multiple Floor Shows per year, and each and every one of them is spectacular.”

As I pass my best friend, I see how Lucan has slung one arm around his waist while a bottle of whiskey dangles from his other hand. The argument he has with Marius and Rafe draws a lot of attention. People are staring over their glasses, hungry for excitement. Of course. Can’t really go anywhere with the Virels.

When Marius catches me staring, he salutes with somebody else’s drink, and I roll my eyes but can’t help chuckling. “And what do you have planned for tonight?”

“Other than your concert? You’ll see.”

We keep on walking, and aside from the guys, I also see Angela sitting in a high-backed armchair near the edge of the stage, elegant as always, her sightless gaze turned toward the music and voices surrounding her. She must hear us approach, because she smiles and turns in our direction. "There you are, sweetheart."

Ciaran bends to kiss her cheek, smiling as she curls a hand around his nape and brushes it through his black hair.

What’s it like not to be able to see the ones you love most? I wonder. When she reaches out her arm, I take it and throw my doubts overboard, accepting her embrace as her fingers map out my cheek, forehead, my lips.

“I can’t wait to hear you play again, Rowan.”

“Thank you.”

She smiles, glancing over my shoulder. “Perhaps one day we can play together.”

“It would be my honor.” I mean every word.

“Come on now, princess. It’s time for you to hit the stage.”

With an apologetic squeeze of her hand, I steer myself back to where Ciaran is already waiting, fingers crooking when I’m not fast enough.

Sola has come, sitting with her husband a little farther back. She waves when she sees me, and I still can’t believe how quickly she feels familiar after all those years she was nothing but a hole in my heart.

I guess that’s what family is like.

We walk toward the Noctis waiting at center stage, and like always, I smile when I see the instrument, my instrument, waiting for me, and...

“What the hell is that?”

My feet stop moving.

Someone is kneeling beside my Noctis, a black cloth covering their head and shoulders while their hands remain bound behind their back.

Around us, conversations continue for another heartbeat before fading away entirely. Still, nobody looks surprised or confused. If anything, they look interested. Expectant.

My gaze jerks toward the galleries, where the families are already leaning forward in their seats while guards stand watch along the walls, the entire room fixed on the stage with a level of anticipation that makes my skin prickle.

Even Lucan, Marius, and Rafe have gone quiet, their eyes locked on the stage with the same tense anticipation filling the rest of the chapel.

A chill crawls down my spine as I slowly turn back to Ciaran. “Zoryan?”

“I told you we got rid of Vera Orlov.” Leaning close enough that only I can hear him breathe, he brushes his knuckles against my jaw before accepting a gun from one of the guards and turning toward the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us this evening. I know you’re all eager for the performance.”

A ripple of laughter moves through the room, and Ciaran chuckles like he just made the world’s funniest joke.

“I know, I know. Patience is not our strongest suit. Soon, Caervast Academy’s most famous Noctis scholarship student will surprise us with a concert.”

He turns my way, as if he can hear my turbulent thoughts. How dare he put me on the spot even more than I already am?

Looking back at the crowd, he caresses the gun like a lover instead of a mortal weapon. “But unfortunately, unexpected business barged in as usual. I’m sure you’ve all heard of our recent trip to Düren. A wonderful collaboration, if I may say so, between the Virel family and the Marrows, and I thank them for their cooperation.”

Applause follows, but that feeling of unease only grows in my stomach.

Ciaran brushes his knuckles lightly against my cheek, a silent I’ve got you, before turning back to the room.