CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO – CARLOTTA

“Uncle?!”

“She accused them of playing her; apparently their mothers are the spitting image of each other. Her mother was, apparently mad”

“Apparently?”

“She was convinced Adelaide was special. Destined for something.”

“She is.”

I bit my lip. Magnus didn’t seem to recognise what this means, but if he’d got this from Seb then I’m sure he’s worked it out too. Poor, dear, dense Magnus.

Fucking Adelaide Knox had resisted my attempts to befriend her. If she’s born from scorn and untouched by madness, then she needed me to bless her with death. But noooo. She knows best, little bitch. I’ll just kill her once she’s found the cure. She’ll soon learn the pitfalls of having a superiority complex.

My plotting was interrupted as Seb crashed through the doors to the throne room, hauling a giant rag ball with him. He threw the ball at my feet where it unravelled into a snivelling wreck. He looked up at me; face covered in tears, bruises everywhere, including his hands, which he grasp