Chapter 12 The Diamond Collar

• (POV: Isabela Montoya)
• The girl in the mirror wasn't me. My skin looked too pale against the dark purple silk dress picked for tonight’s party. Party? It felt more like they were selling me off. My eyes looked huge and shadowed. I hadn't slept well since Papa told me the news. Camila stood close by, her face carefully blank. She suggested fixing a curl or an earring, but her small actions didn’t help the panicked bird flapping inside my chest.
• Tonight was the engagement party. Big. Fancy. A show to tell everyone in our dangerous world about the Montoya-Castillo deal. Rivals, friends, watchers – everyone important would be here. Looking. Judging. Judging Papa’s power, Quino’s readiness, Mateo’s strength. Judging me. The bride. The prize. The chain linking two families out of need and fear.