Isabela's POV:
By the time I returned to Private Room Seven, the auction was still in full swing.
Bidding on Lunar Eclipse, the city-defense design, had already climbed to twenty million, and only three bidders were still in it.
The tension in the room had sharpened to a knife-edge. Even the auctioneer's voice had taken on a feverish pitch.
I slipped back into my seat. The guards were standing at the door again, which meant Leon had already gone.
At twenty-three million, the bidding stalled.
"Twenty-three million, going once!"
"Twenty-three million, going twice!"
The auctioneer was just about to bring down the hammer when a sharp female voice that cracked through the hall was high and shrill enough to stop the room cold.
"Wait!"
Every head in the room turned toward the sound.
Em
