ct the scattered gold coins. Her chest heaved violently, fighting for air through the crushing pain of her bru

but the impact sent a fresh jolt of agony through Elinore's shoul

ed into the hard marble floor right at the bottom of the steps. The b

at the edge of the stone steps. "She is my sister

r the gold. Elinore's sudden movement startled him. He

u useless piece of tr

ncrusted boot and kicked Eli

lic taste of blood flooded her mouth. She didn't bother wiping the red smear from her lips.

raw, tearing her vocal cords. "If you need a chip to trade, s

heart shattered into a million pieces. "Elinore, no! Don't beg h

ocking laugh. He looked down

ore's hands. "You think the Urekai want a waste

t value do you have to anyone besides wasting my kingdom's food?" Ev

the nails cracked, and dark blood welled up around her cuticles. A crushing, suffocating wave

human drama unfold. His dark red eyes narrowed. A

your family theater," Vladya commanded, his voice

x a micros

assive hand, grabbed the back of her nightgown, and hois

her bare feet against Dax's thick leather armor, but

With brutal, mechanical efficiency, he wrenched Josef

ile skin. Bright red blood seeped through the hemp. Josefina ga

sts. The sight of Josefina bound like liv

ped into twenty-one years of repressed Royal bloodline potential, ignoring the screaming agony in her ribs.

the blade straight for the gap betw

dn't even bother to turn around or draw his weapon. He simply

AC

x's hand collided squarely wit

Elinore's feet left the ground entirely. She flew backward through the air, tra

ngers and clattered across the floor, c

pet. Her internal organs felt like they had been ripped loose and rearranged. The coarse linen bi

eck muscles to work, lifting her heavy head. Her v

drag her sister

bsolute despair. Her bloody fingers clawed uselessly at the floor, leaving ten dark red str