Evelyn PoV

The cold steel glinted in my grip, heavy as never before. My heart sounded in my ears almost mythically, nonetheless my hands were steady. The silence stretched itself unbearably long, choking me as all eyes fixed on me.

In one swift motion, I brought the knife down.

A gasp went up from the crowd. A sharp wave of blood rushed into the air. I could hear Odessa approach slowly, her breath almost audibly eager against the still of the night.

Yet Luca was still on his feet.

Breaths ragged, around all that pain in his bones; he was alive. I had not touched him.

It was my blood...