Annora slumped against the cold floor, her skin still stinging from the residual holy power. She slowly raised her head to look at Edward. The High Priest stood there, a picture of immaculate grace and sorrowful pity, entirely untouched by the chaos he had orchestrated.
The realisation hit Annora like a physical blow. He wasn't going to save her. He was throwing her to the wolves to keep his own robes clean. She had been repeatedly played by this man, strung along like a mindless puppet, and this—this was the final straw.
Something dark and ugly snapped inside Annora. Whatever little morals she had left, whatever shred of dignity she was clinging to, completely evaporated. She wasn't going to go down alone.
She whipped her head toward Adeline, her face contorted into a vicious scowl. "Test him then!" Annora shrieked, her voice cracking wildly, echoing off the high ceilings. "He offered himself up! Do it! Expose him!"
