Hazel’s POV
Liora landed on the ground with a sickening crack.
The sound of bone snapping echoed across the courtyard like a gunshot.
Everyone froze.
Her scream ripped through the morning air, high and raw, the kind of sound that makes your stomach drop even when you hate the person making it.
She curled instantly around her right leg, both hands clutching just above the ankle. Her face twisted white with pain, mouth wide, tears streaming down her eyes, real ones this time. No more dramatic performance. Just agony.
“Nicholas!” she wailed, voice cracking on his name. “Nicholas—!”
I stood there with my mouth open, staring up at the balcony.
Nicholas leaned over the railing—expression blank, eyes cold.
No remorse.
No panic.
Just…calm.
Like he’d pushed a chair off the edge instead
