Book 2: House of Cards

Anwen

The tears on Estrella’s cheeks catch the late morning light like diamonds, and I know I’m already too fucking late.

This is what I get for following my head, letting it lead me away from my mate. Baz’s first call to the tower was fine. But as soon as I saw Harper’s broken body at the base, I should’ve run to her. I should’ve seen what was coming and gotten out ahead of it. Instead, I let old loyalties distract me. I trudged through rescues and meetings and discussions like I didn’t know exactly what was happening the second I smelled the old blood.

The smell sticks in my mind. So pungent, I caught it from the top of the tower, and Baz has three times the nose I do. Maybe I’m just looking for any kind of excuse, but I don’t know how the corpse could’ve sat there for damn near two weeks without anyone picking up the scent.

All that flashes through my mind in the time it takes to blink, and then I’m rushing across the third dining room tow