y

g that had happened to me today. But in the end, nobody in this place reall

hable, suffocating me. And to make things worse, Ace's

masking my discomfort with a polite no

ck to my room, and I absolutely could not cry out here where anyone could see. My legs naturally led me outside into the cool night. The

how could I ever hope to achieve it permanently? I had tried talking to my father so many times, but his eyes were completely focused on

iar, deep voice calle

ce, I thought, panic fluttering

d, stepping up to stand beside me. Hi

mmediately forced the hollow smile back onto my face. I looked up at h

n invisible magnetic force, I found my hand moving upward on its own, my

apping out of the trance. But before I could retreat,

ry much, Lady Lyra," he sa

y the intensity in his gaze, and since I couldn't exactly ask him

to know w

entence, my father's sharp vo

Ly

, aggressive strides. He forced a b

te, you know that, right?" His eyes darted between us, trying to

to love smiling. You know, looking at her now, I think my brother has an exceptional eye whe

spitality vanishing as he reached out and grabbed my hand firmly.

ied, stepping bac

hallways until we entered a private, vacant room. The moment we crossed

burst out of my throat. "He slapped me, th

told him to lock you up in the first place. But what I don't know..." He began to walk slowly toward me, his hands clen

place, bracing my body for whatever punishment was coming

o talk, didn't I?" he shouted, the sheer fo

his hands and forcing my face upward so my eyes

etheart?" he asked, his voice dri

urring as I nodded fran

nstantly hate you," he whispered harshly. "Do

d, tears threat

t cruelty because of your beauty. So do not say a single word, and do not interrupt Draven's

erely threatened me, a bright,

e observed, his tone

to wipe away the tears , te

ou," he commanded coldly, leaning

forced the muscles in my face to stretch, fla

houlder. "I even heard Draven let you out of your quarters, but I think I sh

out and clutched his coat, forcing my smile wider while

t hear me clearly, Lyra. If you destroy my plans... you will be locked inside darkness for

my hands over my face, firmly holding back whatever tears re

assured myself, trying to soothe the agony in my chest. The wor

my celestial black gown, and walked back into the ceremo

ed out the moment I stepp

hudder and slowly

gh-ranking women. I could tell by their expensive jewels and arrogant postures that they held high

g her head before the entire group burst into cruel laughter. Caught in the center of the

her that?" another woman

n her eyes. "Even otherworldly beauty comes with a heavy price." Th

eauty really does come with

d the air, a booming, panicked shout t

directly toward me through the crowd, her eyes wide with malice,

thought, time slowing dow