Aurelia’s corseted chest swelled as the rings transformed again. “I bet you wish you hadn’t joined the Holdfasts now. The guilds were always going to win. You all tried to hold us back, and look at what that got you.”
She tossed her head and continued on.
The foyer was empty. Aurelia ascended the steps quickly, hurrying down the second-floor corridor before stopping short outside the first door to the left, touching a panel on the door above the knob. There was a click of the lock unfastening.
“Here. Go in and wait,” Aurelia said, her eyes darting around, and it dawned on Helena far too late that she was walking into a trap.
“Kaine will be along shortly. Don’t come out until he arrives,” Aurelia added.
With that, Aurelia hurried on towards the far end of the hallway, leaving Helena in
