Viorica

s the scorched marble whe

echoing against the stone floor. He stopped before Luc

anyone enter or leave. She used ancient Temple codes to bypass the se

er hidden beneath my coat. "She came to warn us. And to

his amber eyes stil

s a leash," he said. "Something the

e. "A queen? A strategist? Or a weapon created t

omeone stepped out from be

Eva

grey hair was out of place. He approached with the polite s

wed slightly. "But tonight's events could have serious po

und as though you expe

ined, but his

High Priestess appearing inside our citadel are hardly matters we can

int, Evander,"

d his hands b

ey will demand answers. And if they learn she is your fated mate, matters will become even worse. Our own c

e Cyprian?

t your union challenges the Moon Goddess and

ned his att

some may even believe you returned here wit

ost l

r he discarded me, I rebuilt my life with whatever strength I had left. I earned my place t

s enough for people to quest

" I said. "Especially when you find the

faltered f

vice. Survival requires

oug

aura filled the hall, heavy enough

that no word of tonight's events leaves this citadel. If I hear that a sin

der

wish, Yo

disappeared do

til his foot

than he's sayin

he can find them," Lucian replied. "But I

e settl

give me time to refuse. I didn't move,

rs learning not to depend on anyone, yet the simple

ose it. I won't pretend you should be gratef

it does

at our jo

Temple wants my obedience. Now fate wants to decide who I belong to." I pulled in a slow breath. "I

ened, but he didn'

tever this bond means, it doesn't

oked

elp you change it. If you decide our traditions des

ice so

l never be m

I couldn't f

nd for the sake of his kingdom. Instead, he was offering me a

me more than I

rt of me wanted

withdre

e ready to burn your kingd

ile touche

r chance sooner

ard the gran

going?" Lucian

archi

ting to negotiate from a position of strength, probably convinced that

that mistake

g to let him

"If Prince Cyprian thinks he can use the shattered seal to

top and glanced

en the girl he rejected

irl wa

to give me a crown," I told him. "I'm th

I would write t