For a long moment, no one spoke.
The holographic recording faded, and the blue light from the memory crystal dimmed until the grand hall of the Imperius family was once again lit only by chandeliers and sunbeams streaming through the tall windows.
Everyone stood frozen.
Eliana and Edgar still held the crystal as if it were made of fragile glass, their fingers tightened around it. What they had just seen replayed in their minds over and over again.
Solid evidence.
Proof that the Imperius family had been the instigator of this entire mess. Proof that they had twisted the truth and manipulated the Council. And now that evidence was raining down across the continent, carried by black-feathered crows.
Sylvia's face had turned white as paper.
Melina and Riley didn't look much better. Their earlier arrogance was gone, replaced by stunned disbelief and hollow shock.
Edgar suddenly burst out laughing.
His rough, booming voice echoed through the hall.
