LMarissa's voice was not loud, but it carried a sharp authority.
The guards paused immediately. They stopped dragging Ashlyn and looked up at the Grand Duchess, waiting for her command.
Marissa slowly walked down the stone steps. Her night robe dragged slightly on the stones. She walked across the dirt courtyard until she stood right in front of Ashlyn.
Ashlyn stopped struggling. She looked at Marissa. Her face was stained with dirt, blood, and endless tears. She breathed heavily, her chest heaving. When she looked into Marissa's calm, composed eyes, a deep, bitter hatred boiled up inside her.
"My downfall today," Ashlyn hissed, glaring at her sister with pure venom, "is all your doing."
She spat the words out like poison. She blamed Marissa for the trap at the Golden Swan. She blamed Marissa for Liam's anger. She blamed Marissa for everything.
Marissa looked at her. Her expression did not change. There was no guilt, no anger, only a cold, hard truth.
