Rage and grief burned through Daniel as he waited for the trap to spring.

How? How could she stand by and watch Juliet walk to her own death?

Her transparent figure appeared in the bedroom doorway, and he watched her drift over to the secretary before he blocked the way out. Behind him, he felt the noxious salt as Claire sealed them in. Neither would leave until he had the truth.

Emily turned, one hand at her throat. “Daniel? Why are you—I thought—”

“That I had been removed from the game? Claire doubted enough to question me first, before she believed that I lied to her, and murdered Juliet.”

He shot across the room, so fast Emily did not have time to do more than stare. She tried to disappear, but he was ready for her, and dumped the bag of salt he held, trapping them both in the corner. Even with the bag doubled, the salt still burned him, and he felt heat under his skin for the first time in two hundred years.

“Daniel—what are you—”

“I want the truth, Emily. Neither of us will leave until I am satisfied.”

“You would stay, miss the chance to save your beloved Juliet?”

There it was—the anger he had expected. “I know you saw who wrote this note. That your jealousy condemned your own sister.”

“She was supposed to marry first! Instead, our father gave into her whining pleas, and I was forced into a marriage with a man I could barely stand to look at.” Emily lifted her chin, fire in her blue eyes. “I blamed Juliet, for years. But we reconciled, and when year after year passed with no proposal, I knew she would become a spinster, and an outcast, despite her looks. I died with that knowledge as comfort, stayed to watch her live a solitary life. The years softened my animosity, and I enjoyed spending time with her, listening to her talk about her life, as if she knew I was in the room with her. I did love her, Daniel, before she met you.”

“Who wrote the note?” When she kept silent, he leaned in, bracing his hands against the wall. “Do not test me, Emily. I have lost everything that is dear to me, but I will give up my last chance to be with Juliet to condemn her murderer to Hell.”

Her eyes widened. “You would not—”

“If you refuse to tell me, I will leave you here, trapped. Tell me, and I will not have Claire send you the way of Juliet’s murderer.”

Emily stared up at him, silent for so long he nearly gave up. When he began to turn away, she spoke.

“It was Bea.”

Surprise left him speechless for several moments. “Juliet’s chaperone?”

“Aunt Beatrice has been jealous of Juliet from the beginning. She looked—happy, when she was writing it. I thought nothing of it then.”

“How could you not—”

“I thought it was another of her spiteful messages to Juliet! But now, after what you’ve told me, and that I was trapped here the night of her death, when I had always been able to wander freely—”

“Thank you, Emily. Claire!”

She strode into the bedroom, her power surrounding her like silver-shot gold light. “I heard. We don’t have much time. If this aunt has hated Juliet for so many years, that hate will give her more power than I had planned to face.”

Fear struck Daniel, hard and fast. “You do not mean to—”

“Walk away? I made you a promise, and I intend to keep it. Now, I know what I’m dealing with.” She pushed aside the salt trapping them. “Daniel—your hand.”

He looked down, and saw that simply holding the bag that contained the salt had left an angry burn on his palm. “It is nothing, Claire. I would rather you expend your energy for Juliet.”

“All right. Let’s go. I want some time before the main event.” She blinked, and looked up at Daniel. “That sounded like Annie.”

He could not stop the smile at her surprised expression. “She has influenced you more than you expected.”

“It’s hard not to like her.”

“You sound surprised.”

She smiled at him. “I don’t make friends. It has never been to my advantage.”

“You are an odd woman, Claire Wiche.”

“You are an annoying ghost, Daniel Sutherland. And I’m glad I met you.”

Another smile crossed his face, surprising him.

“The sentiment is mutual.”

“Let’s go free your Juliet.”

Daniel followed her, and prayed that his trust was well placed. If not, he may lose Juliet forever.