en

e reeked of smoke, charred wood, and bad memories. The structure still stood, but the upper floor was a

ice flat, "I need to erase a crim

m, and his Shadow Guard melted into the surr

the soot-sta

ounting a stack of bills amidst the wreckage. Jocely

She didn't notice me unti

r reward?" I

s wide with terror. She scrambled back

flesh under her chin. "Jocelyn's plan. Tel

ispose of the Rogues' remains before the authorities arrived. She was supposed to burn the room completely aft

ice devoid of any emotion. I lo

etting her go. Reli

with and drove my knife downward, not to kill, but to maim. I

whispered to her unconscious form. In my old life, I repaired hands like these. Now

ered, though the floor had been scrubbed. Caleb's sigil was still lying in a dark corner, overlooke

f whiskey over the remaining dry flo

to put it out. The flames caugh

ugh a park. Ezra was waiting, a clean handkerchief in his

efully constructed crime scene was now a pile of ash

s about to get

rescription. Lady Hayes's personal physician, a skeptic at first, examined th

ose. Within minutes, a life

as a powerf

etter, written on heavy cream parchment and sealed with royal blue wax, was deliver

read

the "delightful and talented" Arden Sinclair, soon-to-be daughter-in-law of the K

l over the

sordid infideli

ed medical service fro

ries could

of confusion and anger through the pack's mind-link. Th

ld smile. The first crack in