Chapter 0228

That night, Julian came to escort me down to the cellars so that we could explore the tunnel again. He

waited to speak until we were clear of the other candidate’s rooms, but once we had descended the

staircase, he case me a sideways look.

“I heard about what happened,” he said.

My hand tightened on his arm, bunching up the sleeve of his black shirt.

“She was in my room, Julian. She could have been right next to me. Or Elva. If Elva hadn’t wanted to see

that fabric in the morning, we might have never known Jane was there at all. What could she even want to

do with that fabric? It was just a small piece?”

“Some kind of mind game, most likely. Or an attempt to sabotage you.”

I supposed either of those were possible, but I just didn’t know. I hated not knowing.

“But if she’s trying to sabotage me, why would she need to go into the other girls‘ rooms?” I asked.

Julian abruptly stopped walking. I did too, since our arms were looped together.

He looked at me, a touch of something like worry in his eyes. “What did you just say?”

surprised by the shift in him. Then I explained, “Tiffany

even gone into some of the

think it’s me.”

you,” Julian said. “Pretending to be you, sneaking around and acting suspicious. She’s trying to pit all

not the only reason. “If I get

able to sneak around

was unusual on Julian’s face. He typically concealed his anger behind a mask of fake cheer or a knife–edged smirk. Like this, he

murderous.

want that,” he said, voice low and dangerous. “When you and Elva are

you’ll

stomach twisted into an uncomfortable knot. I didn’t want to believe that could

of the palace, I would be more vulnerable. And if Elva’s sickness

I would do to save my daughter.

at me, and the intense focus in his eyes gave me pause. He looked so much like Nicholas

in this moment.

tugged me forward. “We

guard were already waiting. Nicholas was glaring at

arrive.

me into

us both before

glare softened, looking at

told him what I had told Julian,

colorful string of curses, some words of which I’d only heard before in kitchen

the

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