The blade refused to pierce his skin.
Confusion rippled through the watching crowd.
Delilah's jaw tightened.
She pressed harder and harder.
Eric remained completely still, his dark eyes watching her quietly.
Then, the handle snapped.
No one breathed.
Claudia's eyes widened. Her breath caught in her throat as the broken dagger handle clattered loudly against the floor.
Everywhere went into disarray instantly.
Claudia's gaze flicked from the fallen handle to Eric's unmarked palm. A cold realization prickled across the back of her neck.
Something was very wrong.
Very, very wrong.
Eric stood there as he observed the growing chaos.
This was the plan.
The confused crowd.
The elders witnessing it all.
Tonight he would make a public spectacle of the whole thing.
And more importantly, he would take the decision away from his own hands.
