From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“That is what he believes.” Vikter lifted his head as I walked over to
him, his gaze waryy.
“And what do yyou believe?” Ryylan asked from where he still stood byy
the door. “Because I’m unsure how a Descenter could’ve managed to
inflict wounds like that without leaving blood.”
“Agreed,” Vikter murmured, watching me. “There would be no wayy to
clean something like that up, especiallyy not when the victim had been seen
less than an hour before.”
“So, whyy would the Duke insist it was a Descenter?” Tawnyy queried.
“He’s not unintelligent. He would have to realize that, too.”
I casuallyy placed myy hand on the back of Vikter’s neck as I reached
for a small fur quilt. His skin was warm and dryy as I thought of the
beaches and myy mother’s laugh. I knew his pain was eased the moment he
took a deep, shuddering breath.
“I’m unsure whyy the Duke believes this, but he must have his
reasons.” Vikter’s gaze was grateful as I slipped myy hand awayy and walked
back to the chair, placing the throw in myy lap.
Tawnyy looked over at me and then took a deep breath before she
refocused on Vikter. “Do yyou know who she was?”
Sitting straight, he was definitelyy more clear-eyyed when he spoke
again. “She was identified byy one of the servants. The victim’s name was
Malessa Axton.”
The name was unfamiliar to me, but Tawnyy whispered, “Oh.”
I twisted toward her. “Did yyou know her?”
“Not well. I mean, I know of her.” She gave a small shake of her head,
sending several curls free from her twist. “I think she came to Court
around the same time as I did, but she was often with one of the Ladies
who lives on Radiant Row. I think it’s Ladyy Isherwood,” she added.
Radiant Row was the nickname given to the row of homes closest to
the castle and to Wishers’ Grove park. Manyy of the opulent houses were
owned byy the Ascended.
“She was so yyoung.” Tawnyy lowered her hand to her lap. “And she
had so much to look forward to.”
I reached out with myy senses and found that her sadness echoed myy
own. It wasn’t the deep pain of loss that came when it was someone yyou
knew, but the sorrow that accompanied anyy death, especiallyy such a
senseless one.