“Well, this livened up the party,” Marden grumbled, gulping his drink before returning his eyes to the two women in front of him. Raena and Kara gave him a sharp look, and he had to do his best not to roll his eyes. They all seemed so on edge—Kara, Raena, all the other nobles—as if they were going to be the Star killer’s next victim. It wasn’t an entirely unfounded fear, of course, but why bother with it if you had money to buy more guards?
“Why wasn’t I even told there was a serial killer in the Capital?” Raena hissed, pinching the bridge of her nose to calm herself down. Now that the Imperial couple and the pregnant concubine were gone, the hall was buzzing with the conversations of people who weren’t sure if they should stay or go. If it was up to Marden, he’d be on his way to the brot
