Elma Pov
I lie on the bed in shock for a few moments. It isn’t until Xander is long gone and a sudden scream pierces the air just outside the chamber doors that I finally snap back to reality. I jolt upright and rush toward the sound, careful to keep my footsteps quiet.
I press an ear against the polished wood, straining to hear anything else. When the hallway falls dead silent, I slowly pull the door open.
The sight on the other side makes my blood run cold. The High Luna’s maid is lying on the floor, a dark pool gathering beneath her. A horrifying claw wound slashes across her torso, and she’s barely conscious.
Swallowing my terror, I drop to my knees beside her. I rip a large strip of fabric from my evening gown and press it firmly over her stomach. She winces, protesting weakly.
“
