Chapter 54

Isabella

The blood had begun to dry.

It was sticky now, darker, thicker, sinking into the marble floor like it belonged there.

Federico hadn’t moved, and I almost laughed at myself for thinking he could. Of course he couldn’t, especially when his body had tried one last attempt to rebel against death, but it couldn’t fight for long.

His body lay twisted, the weight of death folding him in on himself like he had never been whole to begin with. His mouth was still slightly open, as if the words he’d choked out were clinging to the edge of his teeth, desperate to escape. His eyes, wide and glazed, stared at nothing and yet still held the echo of fear.

I couldn’t look away. Even though I wanted to.

The silence in the ballroom was a living thing. Its claws dug into everywhere, and even the sound of breathing was hardly heard. People stood like statues, caught mid-breath, with their hands hovering uselessly near glasses, and their faces pale with