asked quietly. "They just

ust a woman-only good for money, a bargaining chip. He said I was good f

.." Reina's

ckled down

r. So violently I shook just watching." Reina's hands trembled at the memory. "That's when I swo

ice cr

if she's okay. She's been through so

uldn't

oke down

tly, something twisting

il

ributed to her pain. His army had destroyed

and she looked so s

ions, where everyone was strict and cold. He didn't know

t thinking

lled her against his chest, rubbing

-surprising

to him, her s

e he belonged here. In

said quietly, his voice rough. "

oth

hoed in Dar

r known h

to when he was little. A youn

SHB

rinces and their mothers to dinner.

t the long table-each p

pt D

the table. The seat n

icular pleasure in tormenting him. It hadn't always been that way. Whe

sh's hair had

through the castle

d pulled him away. Told him no

m. The maids cast him ugly glances wherever he w

rly age, Daresh had st

were impeccable-far beyond what an

she'd pushed Callum into the training yard too. But no matter

only made t

air?" Callum said with a mean

brothers

t like dis

thers had gone to welcome their father home from war. Da

ed each brother wit

was Dares

the King's face. Replaced insta

cknowledged D

n a hurt child

love. Never been

gs with. At an early age, he'd been forced to bot

had been certain he'd mak

he

t wha

bered an

d up on him-cornered him in the training

e that could burn even fire demons. Only the most terrible

ad been

unded by flames that ate at his skin

ierre in the process-broke

the King. She'd made such a fuss, crying about how Daresh w

d to tell his s

ell on d

n the dungeon as punishme

. puni

h had first thought

of the castle and found it-a little underg

w what had dr

's extraordinary silve

glowed faintly blue-like

, he'd felt...

other's

ost love yet

his life. To unlock whatever secrets

ire demons couldn't survive

esh did

ing to live

he pool, staring down int

nd it. The p

ned fo

yanked him bac

behind him. A dangerous aura presse

fa

in his eyes-those cold, burning eyes tha

id no

d Daresh dr

he punishmen

ire again-held him there

r felt. His skin burned. His bones ac

didn't ma

beg. Di

t... e

e fire to consume him completely so he

m out, his father ordered w

n the

om with his skin charred and blistered,

o the top of

he j

ESH,

thoughts, yanking him viol

yourself!

voice-terrifi

ime she'd ever cal

soriented, his

h wide, horrified eyes, te

er voice breaking. "I saw it. I saw everything

s breat

his me

that p

he'd always thought that was a myth

een it. See

htened. Panic

o process this. Didn

only thing he

s chair scraping hars

ord, he turned