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“What the fuck were you thinking, Vane—”

‘Never again, Voski!’

“What is hap—?”

“Shut the fuck up! I’m warning you!” I roared.

Mother drew up short, eyes bulging. Grace’s mouth snapped shut, her tears spilling over as despair painted her beautiful face, and Kham went still in my head and my heart.

I stood there, panting, still nauseous, but made myself straighten slowly until I loomed over Grace who was still on the floor. I couldn’t allow Mother to believe Grace held a grip on me that exceeded my desire for power. It would be a death sentence for Grace. So I silently pleaded with my eyes that she forgive me, and made myself imposing.

And so fucking cold.

“Vane!” Mother snapped. “What—”

“If you say one more word, I’ll throw you into the void and never let you return,” I vowed without turning to face Mother.

And to my surprise, she stopped.

Grace, frozen, hunched on the floor, tears tracking down her cheeks, stared at me, gaping like a frightened child.

And Kham… Kham rumbled deep disapproval. ‘The warning here is for you, Goldfinger.’ He used that stupid name dripping with sarcasm so acute, I flinched.

And as I stood there, scanning the detritus of my decisions, it hit me.

If I got this wrong one more time, I’d lose them all. Lose their trust entirely.

No one was worth endless, circular pain.

No one.

“Vos—” Grace gasped.

‘I didn’t say—’ Kham started.

I shut them both down. Shut them out.

I looked at my mother and her smile slowly crept up.

I needed to think. To solve this. And somehow, I had to do it more quickly than my mother. Otherwise we were all fucking dead.

The Razor’s Edge

~ GRACE ~

When Voski shut down the link, I gasped, and physically flinched—then threw myself toward him. But my toes caught on the robe hem and I never made it to my feet. I lunged from my knees, only to tumble to the hard floor again, and cried out when my kneecaps cracked on the floor.

“Stop your fucking whining!” Voski snapped, and I recoiled, mentally scrambling.

He’s playing a role. This is what he must appear to be.

But I was shaken, and confused. Terrified and hurting. My heart refused to accept my thoughts, and I was weak. So weak.

What had he done? Where had he taken us? I felt like I’d been stripped of every ounce of strength or clarity, leaving in its wake only fear and fragility.

I was, once again, the unwitting woman, facing a cold wall and angry eyes, yet desperate for his approval and tenderness.

No. No, that wasn’t true. I knew it wasn’t true.