42ISABELLAThe silence in the grand ballroom was louder than any scream. I stood in the center of the room, my chest heaving, the lingering scent of ozone and scorched silk stinging my nostrils. Below me, Ravena lay sprawled across the marble floor, her bridal gown stained with something that wasn't just blood. She was perfectly, terrifyingly still.What have I done?I looked down at my hands. They were trembling, glowing with a faint, sickly violet light that wouldn't dissipate. I hadn't meant to do it. It was a reflex—a snap of irritation, a sudden surge of defense against the sharp, biting whispers the bridesmaids had been throwing my way all morning. I had simply wanted them to stop.But I hadn't just made them stop. I had unleashed something that tore through the air like a physical lash.Around me, the guests had retreated into a tight, jagged circle. The women, who moments ago were laughing and sipping champagne, now held their breath, their eyes wide with a primal, terrified
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