s weighing on her wrists, very aware of the guards positioned throughout the room,

s, calculating and cold. "Lucien," the king said finally. "Would you care to ex

sty-" Luci

predatory grace, Matthias rose slowly from his thron

nishment as the words dropped

sps. Beside her, Lucien

e replie

like scorching heat, even if his countenance was unreadable. This vampire had ruled for generations, put

s said. "And how exac

n said. "The Crimson

..." He trailed off, seeming to struggle for words. "Because the bond wouldn't let you kill her,"

father's memo

ven though her lips were dry.

tion as his focus suddenly shifted to her. "I do

ecall aski

ke a choked swear. The hands of several guards shifted to their firearms. However, Sera had

prised her b

he difference." He circled her slowly, assessing. "What's your name?" "Sera Thorne." She oversaw his

t you to vampire territory tonight, Sera Thorne?" Matthias asked. "Surely you know that witches found here are killed on sight.

, there was no need to lie. "I tried to resist

" Elara said

be faked. That much I know. But it also hasn't manifested

h foolishly believed in such a b

stor was innocent," befo

rees. There was no longer any softness in Matthias

ance

aising her chin. "King Aldric was

have stopped breathing as well. Through the bond, Sera sensed Lu

e a descendant of the witch who killed my grandfather, in addit

d. "The trial was a fraud. The evidence

oug

grief for his father. That murder and its treachery weighed heavily on me as I gre

, her heart poundin

noticed his fangs slightly expand as his hands flexed at his s

while maintaining e

e." "Your Maj

. He looked back at Sera before he left, and she saw his turmoil through th

aving Sera alone with Elara a

to see the sparkles of gold in her amber eyes. "Are you not

did

theories don't concern me. I'm concerned that y

it got Ald

retorted. "I didn't ask for t

mand. "When you sensed the bond, why didn'

reasonable. She had followed the pull, but why? Why hadn

life pretending to be someone I'm not, hiding who I am, and denying my power. And I

hought

's pulling me toward a vampire despite everything, there might be something bigger a

ds? Just like Aldric and Morgana tried to do?" "They didn't try to do anything," Sera said. "They didn't get the ch

at this cycle indefinitely if no one ever considers the

ement, but perhaps a crack in her confidence. Before she cou

the king's countenance was unreadable

are accused of breaking into vampire territory

erciful because of the.

ds made Sera's he

about which resistance movements, about your people's plans, about everything you kn

ana Thorne didn't kill my grandfather? Fine. Prove it. You have one month. If you can show me evidence-real, ve

s just a fragment, barely legible, indeed not enough to prove anything. Matthias was offering her false hope while giving himself time to extract informati

tays in the east wing, under guard at all times. You may work with her on this investigation,

Am I clear?" "Crystal," Lucien said quietly. "Excellent. Now get her out of my sight. I need to t

n't quite decipher as they brought her to the door. It m

eral hallways before arriving at what appeared to be the ea

a cell. It was a suite-sitting room, bedroom visible through another door, tall windows that looked out over the city. Furnished comfortably, even

you need to eat or take a bath, in which case guard

were alone for the first time since the mate bo

y jailer," s

keep you alive,

ediately. I convinced him to give yo

e is familiar with the tale of how his witch lover killed him and how trust and love led to his demise. And now I have a bond

e great-great-grandfather was purportedly murdered by my ancestor. Imprisoned in

having a great

and rage drove them apart. Through the bond, Sera could sense his feelings: dread

that, while being chained and imprisoned, a part of her year

't work,"

st a slower execution." "Then we'll have to find evidence," Lucien said. "You mentioned proof. What di

ound something tonight," she admitted. "A partial letter that suggests someone else was invol

n considered this. "I can send someone to retrieve it tomorrow." "No."

nd ask questions. And the letter is fragile. If some

t do you

ss hours tomorrow. I'll go get it myself. If yo

?" Lucien had a disbelieving expression.

would

ow how strong it is. I can't run from you

them could separate from the other due to the bond. The char

get some rest in the meantime. We'll begin organizi

ped him as he tur

"Thank you. For keepi

the most well-known murder story in our history did not occur as everyone believes, something no one has done in four

kno

to establish Morgana's innocence, that doesn't mean we ha

till en

w that

asible their circumstances were. Then Lucien shut the door behind him and left.

was

prisoned in the vampire castle, Rowan and the other witches would be living their secret

t to be

had spent three years researching in archives and believ

nce that had eluded every

that the war was based on a falsehood, and that perhaps-just

not f

always been drawn

ys been drawn to

have to persuade Lucien to allow her to visit the archives tomorrow. She would have to locat

eading up to her death, she would have to solve

hrough the window. Dawn was approaching. A fresh day

o die, at least it would be

r would have b

s awake, agitated, and grappling with the same impractical circumstance. For

. But they had one month to rewrite history. And Sera had never