When the video was done playing, Mr. Ashbourne turned to her.
"I'm only going to ask you this question, and I'll ask you once," he began, his tone so sharp it nearly cut her skin. "Were you working with the vampires and orchestrated that explosion?"
If the Head Guardian was joking, he wasn't smiling—and it was a terrible joke. A terrifying one, in fact. The kind that made goosebumps rise on her skin, all the hairs standing on end while a trickle of sweat rolled down her temple. She shivered once again in fear.
"I—I'm sorry—what—"
Valeska didn't get to finish her sentence before a sudden bang on the table echoed, making her flinch.
"Don't you dare pretend, girl," said another guardian. Valeska recognized him: Guardian Asael. He had visited their home before to discuss council matters, and every time he came, he'd given her a look of disgust—like he couldn't understand why her mother kept her around. Or worse, why her mother had kept her alive.
