Chapter 256

Evelyn PoV The cold steel glinted in my grip, heavy as never before. My heart sounded in my ears almost mythically, nonetheless my hands were steady. The silence stretched itself unbearably long, choking me as all eyes fixed on me. In one swift motion, I brought the knife down. A gasp went up from the crowd. A sharp wave of blood rushed into the air. I could hear Odessa approach slowly, her breath almost audibly eager against the still of the night. Yet Luca was still on his feet. Breaths ragged, around all that pain in his bones; he was alive. I had not touched him. It was my blood that trickled onto the ground and pooled at my feet, which I had crudely sliced. My fingers were stiff with pain as I raised my chin. Murmurs went through the gathered rogues. They were not expecting this. None of them were. "Evelyn," Odessa cried out, calm together with a fright. "What are you trying to do?" I swallowed the burn in my throat and met her gaze head-on. "You wanted a sacrifice," I said with m