The icy realisation caused her body to shudder. Death stood before her, and the one who brought it to her doorstep was her own son. She had lived long enough amidst the corrupted nobles to know not to trust anyone. Not her father, not her cousins and even less a commoner.
Panic. A dreadful panic seized her thought process, shackling her logic and making her ignore Nathan's words.
Like a cat having its tail stepped on, she turned, rushed, and opened the cell. A light glinted as she drew a short dagger from her boot and placed it under Alina's jaw.
"If you move, she's dead!"
Her cracking voice echoed menacingly, yet her rapidly rising chest and ragged breathing broke her threatening image.
"Nathan, come here! I'll get us out!"
