Chapter 13 · The Mark He Hid

"Nora Bell, you are under arrest for curse murder, evidence theft, and the attempted poisoning of a council heir."

Bram Calder's voice carried across the gala hall before the musicians could finish the next note.

Every glass stopped halfway to every mouth.

I stood beside the evidence display with one hand on the black case I had stolen back from his office. Bram stood at the foot of the stairs, dressed in white council silk, smiling like he had already watched me die once and couldn't wait for the encore.

"You brought handcuffs to a charity gala?" I asked.

"I brought justice."

"No. You brought six guards, three reporters, and a speech you practiced in a mirror."

A few guests glanced at each other. Good. Let them look.

Bram's smile thinned. "You always did confuse attention with innocence."

"And you always did confuse a good suit with a clean record."

A murmur moved through the crowd.

Bram lifted one hand. The guards behind him stepped forward. Their boots struck the marble in perfect rhythm, each one wearing the silver badge of the Council Watch.

The power in the room tilted toward him. His council seat. His family name.