Chapter 13 When The Mask Slips

• The cold night air clung to Mira’s skin, but it was nothing compared to the chill that seeped into her bones as the shouts from the ballroom echoed out into the gardens. She stood on the balcony, knuckles white against the marble railing, straining to hear more.
• The music had stopped, in its place came the low, guttural snarls of something inhuman, the crash of breaking glass, and the sharp gasp of a woman cut off mid-breath. Somewhere beyond the estate walls, wolves howled, though Mira knew enough now to understand they weren’t wolves at all.
• Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, Cassian had told her to stay, don’t move. His command had been sharp as steel, and she’d nodded without argument but every second that passed was another that knotted her stomach tighter.