re' s engagement

ood near a window, away

er Ethan, was now

l felt

sister, glowed as sh

dant, the Aegis Locket, felt cool against her skin, a familiar comfor

on started near the

e scr

sic st

one t

her dress torn, a dark bruise

haking finger d

ice cracking. "Rory attacked me! She

illed t

n cold. "Claire, what

side, his face a mask of

nster,"

est. "She even... she even tried to make it look

crumpled note. "She tri

d, speechless. Thi

am" Dubois, pushed through t

meaning of this?" S

aded, looking from Ethan to Sam.

"She' s always hated me, a

"I saw her near your room earlie

eyes blazing. "You wi

report. Damning evidence." He didn't elaborate,

old disappointment. "You

face pale with shock. She looked at Rory, then at the weepin

" Ethan declared, his voice ringi

lows. In Maine. They' ll know how to deal wit

hispers. An isolated, brutal

whispered.

nd shot out and roughly unclaspe

his voice like ice. The locket, her f

naked,

lent, watching crowd. "Five years in The Holl

or." He would send a directive to The Elder of The Hollows. He intended it to

; Sam, stern and righteous; Claire, hiding a small, triu

belie

would h

s security men

dn' t

ke it was already

the concerned murmurs, fa

life w