Chapter 9 · The Murder Tape

Lady Casta's voice cuts through the chaos like a knife. "Do you still claim him, Miss Moore? Knowing what he did?"

I can't hear her. I mean, I hear the words, but they're underwater, garbled. My ears are ringing so loud it feels like my skull's splitting open. Silas is sagging against me, his weight pulling us both down. His blood is sticky on my hands. The bond is still there—still humming under my ribs like a second heartbeat—and that's the problem.

Because my family's dead. And Grayson just showed me proof that Silas burned them alive.

"Ivy." Silas's voice breaks on my name. He's trying to push himself upright, but his legs won't hold. "Listen to me—"

"Don't." The word comes out flat. I don't even recognize my own voice.

The screens are still glowing. Grayson's face is frozen mid-smile, but the photos cycle on repeat behind him. My mom's body bag. The fire. Silas in tactical gear standing in front of the wreckage.

I helped him. I kissed him. I let him drag me into this Court and parade me around like I was his.

And he knew. The whole time, he knew.

"It's not—