Voices, muffled and low, drifted in and out of my ears. I caught snippets of conversations, sometimes just one word, sometimes a string of them. "I-I came back as fast as I could." "Don't...." "Has she..."

Meanwhile, I was trying my hardest to fight through the fog that had settled over me. There was something I needed to tell... someone, but I couldn't remember what. I forced my eyes open, blurry faces appearing above me. I blinked rapidly, my vision clearing as I realized I was lying down.

Mom's face was pale and tear-stained as she put a shaking hand on my cheek. Oh, Izzy. What happened?

I fought through the unconsciousness tugging at me, forcing my body into a sitting position. In one smooth movement, I was sitting upright—in our bedroom, I realized. "Rochelle... Is... I-is she..." Every word was a battle; the real struggle, however, was trying not to glance at the large bandage that covered my collarbone.

Another face appeared above my own; this one was deathly pale, eyes filled with fear and guilt. "I'm so, so, sorry, Isadora. I had no idea that was going to happen." When I looked into Rochelle's eyes—really looked at her—I could all but feel the guilt radiating from her.

Her thoughts flashed before my eyes, almost too quickly for me to identify. I shouldn't have come back to Rosewood. I nearly got Isadora killed. Nerissa will never allow me to come back now.

I quickly shook my head. "You have nothing to apologize for. This was not your fault." I had a thin smile on my face trying to reassure her, but inside, my mood was anything but encouraging.

"That's right, Izzy. It's not her fault. It's yours. You should have seen this coming. You should have anticipated this." Each word jolted through me with dagger-sharp edges.

"Aunt Naia," I suddenly gasped. All eyes turned towards me. "S-she was the one who attacked us."

I felt more than saw the shift in Dad's mood. He went rigid; his hands clenched into fists. His eyes burned with anger. Mom was already there, a hand moving towards his arm, but she was too late. He was already at the door to our suite, hand hovering over the knob. Jay, please, Mom was telling him. Don't do something you'll regret.

I could feel the blackness of Dad's mood as it rippled off him. It was so similar to my own only hours earlier that I nearly choked. When I looked into his eyes—the same way I'd looked at Rochelle—I saw his thoughts, as clear as if they'd been written down. Why does my family have to suffer? Haven't they given enough? Haven't I given enough?

"Daddy, please," I begged. I swam to him, taking both his hands. His breath was coming fast; his chest was heaving as it worked to bring water into his lungs and push it out. After a minute, I felt him falter. When he looked at me, the absolute heartbreak and guilt in his eyes was like a punch in the stomach.

He opened his mouth to speak, but paused as the door to our rooms opened. A servant rushed inside, hurriedly bowing to the four of us. "I just received an urgent message from Nepptheas, Your Majesties," he said. It was then that I noticed he was holding a note in his hands. Mom took the paper from him, nodding her thanks.

I didn't even see him leave the room. All I saw was her eyes moving across the page. It happened so fast I didn't even have time to move. One minute she was clutching the paper in her hands, the next she was crumpled on the ground.

"Mom," I shouted, swimming to her side. Her hands covered her face, body shaking as she sobbed. Dad was right behind me, moving to her other side. The paper had slipped from her grasp and settled on the floor. With shaking hands, I picked it up, my heart dropping into my stomach.

My eyes moved rapidly as I read, each word tightening the knot that was steadily forming in my stomach. When I got to the end of the letter, my eyes snagged on one sentence—one that I knew, without a doubt, would change our lives forever. Former king and queen of Nepptheas found alive in abandoned house in Aquireth; current queen charged with attempted murder.

"What do we do now?" I asked, trying to quell the panic tightening my stomach. My thoughts were whirling around in my mind, making them impossible to understand. A horrifying realization washed over me, bringing with it a fresh sense of dread: that's why Rochelle and I couldn't find the bodies at Rosewood. They weren't there in the first place.

It was Dad who answered, his voice dangerously calm. "Nothing. Naia can't possibly get out of this one; she'll finally get what she deserves."

I wished I could believe his words. Yet another servant entered the room, baring an identical piece of paper. He bowed quickly before handing the paper to Mom and leaving the room. Dad immediately moved to her side, a comforting hand resting on the small of her back.

I felt more than saw the shift in her mood; she went from sobbing to blazing with anger. When she looked at me, I was taken aback by the sudden malice in her eyes. She'll pay for this, Izzy. All of it. Her hands never wavered as she signed; her gaze remained steady.

She handed me the paper, breathing heavily. Naia Demetra Monroe has been found guilty of attempted murder. She is to be executed at noon today in front of Nepptheas' palace. All from surrounding kingdoms are instructed to attend.

I felt as if the water had been snatched from my lungs. I tried to take a breath, but could barely manage a weak inhale. Finally, after everything—the attacks, the posturing—it was finally over. I should have felt relieved—glad that she was finally getting what she deserved. Instead, however, I felt unsettled.

That uneasiness lingered, trailing me like a shadow. I rubbed my hands over my face, surprised to find them shaking. "It's over," I said hoarsely, happy tears welling in my eyes.

Mom flew into my arms, her body crumpling. I couldn't even begin to imagine what she must have been feeling. All the emotions that had to be rushing through her. A sudden chill ran down my spine, accompanied by a familiar face. "Her reign may be over, but her actions, and the consequences following those actions, will be felt for months to come. Be on your guard, Princess. Watch out for your loved ones. Keep them safe."

I blinked back into the present, confused and troubled by the ghost's words. What did they mean?

Mom had a concerned look on her face as she drew back to look at me. What's wrong, Izzy? She asked.

That uneasiness clutched my heart with an unrelenting grip. Little did I know, the ghost's words would prove true seemingly faster than I thought.

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