Disclaimer: The world is ahar's; everyone but Mara belongs to Starlight and Notebook.

Stumbling on my feet but I'm creeping silently

into the Nest, gasping mutely

at the hum of falcon magic in the air.

They are here.

Watching as the heir to Ahnmik's throne—

too beautiful, so much it hurts my eyes—

eyes the dancers with distaste,

yanks Karma and her cousin from the crowd,

screeching to the mongrels, this is wrong,

mongrel heirs?

Acelan steps up and I want to smack him

back down.

(Stupid, stupid move.)

Orders falcons to leave but I know they won't

They want to kill.

She means it, I want to scream

But Acelan does not hear my silent voice.

Silver blade of knife, flashing in the firelight,

I'm holding Iris back

and the blade meets someone else's—

Acelan, no!

Deadly dance, and I am crying,

don't kill him, don't.

Falcon steps back and Iris breaks from me.

Hearing a scream I try not to

cover my eyes.

Too much blood.

Iris in a bloody heap, fallen on the princess,

I'm lifting her away and letting others take her

away before I realize the falcons are gone.

They love to play games and I hate that

I'm one of them…

But I wipe Iris's blood from Karma's face

and cry into her.

She's fading, "Don't sleep."

My voice is hoarse as I hide my fear

and I'm desperate to stop her falling,

but she smiles and groans,

her beauty fading into Ecl,

Mongrel falling limp, she sleeps in the cushions

And I'm blinking back fresh tears.

You're alive but I can't take you out

of your icy prison.

Hands pry me away from her, and

I think I scream,

but my eyes are blurry and I can't see.

We are cursed,

we are cursed.