127. Adrian held Henry's arm as he was about to walk off again. "Hold on." He kept his eyes as the stranger kept walking deeper into the palace. Henry swatted off Adrian's hand off. He looked ready to jump out immediately and start screaming questions. Adrian grabbed the back of his shirt before he could move yet again. "Stay still or else I will kick the shit out of you." "But—" "Shut up. I'm not kidding, if you mess this up, you will regret it." Henry glared at him. The man in black kept moving through without hesitation. He turned a corner, passing through areas with fewer guards. Even after the front, every other guard he passed just ignored him. "Something is very wrong here." Adrian muttered as they followed him carefully from behind. "Oh wow, you think?" Henry hissed. The stranger eventually reached one of the quieter sections of the palace, looking around. Adrian was ready. This was the perfect place for an ambush. He looked at Henry and nodded.

129. (Earlier that same day.) Macy sat by herself at a small bakery near the market square with a hood over her head and a cup of tea in front of her. She was still very angry. Angry at Adrian, angry at herself, and angry at the whole fucking world. The argument from earlier kept replaying in her head. “He thinks I’m weak.” She scoffed. Bullshit. Macy drank her tea, deep in thought. She knew that she owed basically everything to Adrian, but she didn’t want to keep doing that forever. An older woman nearby looked at her strangely. Macy ignored her. The bakery was crowded because of tomorrow's celebration. It was one of the few high-end ones with nobles and wealthy merchants with their servants and guards in with them. They were all talking about one thing. Of Summer Nights. The royal ball everybody wouldn't shut up about. Macy honestly did not care until she overheard the people behind her talking. Two noblemen sat there dressed in expensive clothes while stuffing pastri

131. Henry looked like somebody had punched straight through his chest and laughed. No one had any idea if he we laughing at himself or to himself. "Wow." He muttered. "This is actually my life now." Macy folded her arms and looked at him without sympathy. "If you're too scared, then leave." Henry looked at her instantly. "Excuse me?" "You heard me." Macy shrugged. "Nobody is forcing you to stay here." Henry scoffed bitterly. "Right. Because apparently my father is possessed, there's a magical psychopath planning mass murder, and now there might be something even worse controlling all of this. But yes, let me just casually go home and sleep." "You're the one looking like you're about to faint. What will you even do? I've heard you're a horrible fighter." "I am stressed!" "You've said that six times now." Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose. "Macy." "What?" "Please. Just please, stop antagonising him for one minute." Macy rolled her eyes and He

133. "Sir Adrian Bloodson and friends, you must come with us." Henry immediately frowned at the zombie-acting guards. "Friends?" Henry said. "That sounds disgusting." Macy folded her arms. "I'm not going anywhere with creepy dead-eyed weirdos." The guards did not react to her. “You must come with us.” “Why?” Adrian asked. “You have been requested." "By who?" Henry asked. Before the guard could answer, another voice cut in. "Oh, leave them alone already." Adrian turned around to see Lady G walking towards them with a stern look on her face directed at the guards. How did she enter without them noticing? Adruan thought. He looked around, but she had not set anything off. Lady G wore a long dark dress covered in silver designs that shimmered beneath the ballroom lights. Her black gloves reached past her elbows and a small smile rested on her lips. She looked elegant and terrifying, in the way that a snake did. Beautiful till attack. The guards immediatel

135. Lady G’s face had completely lost colour. She pointed at Macy with a shaking hand. “No. This cannot be happening!” She whispered. Macy waved at her. “Hello to you too." "THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!" Lady G screamed. "I KILLED YOU! I SAW YOUR BODY DROP! I KNOW WHERE YOUR HEART IS!” Henry looked between both women. “This would make a really good story." “Who are you? How are you alive?” Lady G asked in fear. Macy smirked proudly. "Skill issue. As you can see, I am not dead.” Lady G looked genuinely horrified now. “No, I know what I’m saying! I blasted through your chest myself..." She looked up at Adrian. “You have to believe me!” Adrian folded his arms. “You did." Lady G glared at him. “If that’s true then how is she alive?” Adrian finally smiled genuinely for the first time that night.- - - Earlier before the ballroom battle. Adrian stood in one of the palace corridors with two Macys standing in front of him. Henry stared at both women with comple