one yea

ined-glass windows, painting the central corrido

ool military uniform, its stiff, bulky cut deliberately chosen to hide the lines of her body. Her

Her jaw was locked tight. Her eyes were chips of blue ice. She used the cold, arroga

nst the stone railing, smoking cheap tobacco. The moment the

noble with a face heavily scarred by pox. He dragged out the

t he can't even lift a broadsword. If you ask me, throw him into the Urekai slave

the word Urekai, her heart violently contracted in her

ted her black-gloved right hand on the hilt of the sword strapped to

iolence. The nobles' laughter died instantly in their throats. They

e them a single glance, leaving the group of ar

o an abandoned, rust-smelling armory. She slamme

icy mask shattered. She gasped for air, her chest h

the thick fabric of her uniform. Her heart hammered against her ribs like a tr

e was a parasitic vine wr

m. She stared at her reflection in a rusted, polished shield leaning against the wall. No matt

restus had kept her and Josefina in the palace under the guise of "adop

ck down. She didn't have the luxury of weakness. Her

gainst her eyes, taking deep, measur

sound. It was faint, coming from deep down

aced by the hyper-alert focus of a predator. She quickly b

r. She heard the dull thud of a body hitting

h Wing, Elinore calculated instan

gut. She unlocked the door and slipped

ls, her boots silent, bypas

grew louder. The sickening tear of f

overpowering cologne. It was the signature scent o

h, terrified sob that she knew

The blood rushed to her

efi

ibrary. They were slightly ajar. Through the crack, the

rrifying, murderous rage exploded behind her eyes. She lifted her