oe

ed mid-measure. Hundreds of aristocrats, socialites, and dignita

eman lay crumpled across the crimson carpet, hi

r Sin

s knees beside the fallen patriarch, his hands tremblin

doctor wailed, his voice tight with rising terror. "Where

shouted across the stage, pale and shaking. "It will take six

weat pouring down his temples. "His brain will be st

akly at his starched collar, his mouth opening and closing like a suffocating fish, yet no breath e

ulterated disgust. She gathered the hem of her rented silk gown tightl

, backing into a decorative urn. "He's foamin

ic coward to the very

's teachings flooded my veins. The Tucker family, the sneering crowd, the masquera

r was not dyin

y way!" I

ed out to block the stage steps, but I sidestepped his grip with the practiced speed of a trauma surgeon, flicke

nds," I order

d with stress. "Who the hell are you?! S

ather died while you stood here hyperventilating, keep bar

e knocked the breath out of h

n

a-fine silver needles, each five inches long and polished to

and ripped his dress shirt open, exposing his b

is right earlobe. A rapid, vibrating tap to force hi

intercostal junction beneath his third rib, grounding the chao

stead of relief, Jessica's face twisted into an expression of derange

edge of the stage and pointing a manicured finger at my hands. "SHE HAS A WEAPON! TH

bid animal. "SHE'S MURDERING THE HEAD OF THE SIN

ur armed security officers broke from the perimeter, d

fficer could unholster his baton, Walter caught his wrist, driving his thumb into the n

opping into a low, lethal murmur: "Stand down. Unless you want the Sinclair execu

the screams. Arthur's pupils were d

o

neural axis centered over his sternum, locked my left palm over my knuckles, and d

AC

bone and neural realignmen

nt glee: "SHE BROKE HIS CHEST

shoulder. I didn't move an inch. I leaned right over Arthur

Arthur!