Chapter 6 · Prove It's Royal

The silver blade caught the candlelight. Long, thin, with a hooked tip. The kind of thing you don't use unless you want it to hurt.

The blood examiner didn't look at me. He was old, older than Edwin maybe, with hands that shook just enough to make the blade wobble. Seraphine stood behind him like she was directing a play. Her smile hadn't moved since she walked in.

"Second test," she said. "Crown Prince's orders. We need to be certain the child is... viable."

Edwin stepped between me and the examiner. "She already passed the first test. The bloodstone confirmed—"

"Bloodstones can be fooled." Seraphine's voice stayed light. Pleasant, even. "Diluted blood. Human tricks. I'm sure you've seen it, Dr. Grey. In your long career."

The threat sat there between them. Edwin's jaw worked. He knew what she meant. He'd been around for the massacre. She was reminding him.

I pressed my back against the wall. My hand went to my stomach without thinking. The baby wasn't showing yet, not really, but I could feel the difference. The weight.