en

mbers was kicked open withou

ed peacock, her silk gown shimmering

upcoming royal engagement feast-a celebra

ncing velvet-lined jewel cases laden with

ook up fro

hes in my mother's worn leather journal, cataloging the neuroto

as nothing more than a pas

ce was a sharper slap

e tightened into

, snatching the leather journal from under my fing

he book against the baseboard. "A No-Dragon should learn how to beg

r a moment, then

shed the dust from its weathered co

y fed her twis

ly stroking the magnificent teardrop

voice dripping with vanity. "He calls it The Dragon's Blood. He

ing down until her breath felt

usly. "He said you were a bore. A cold, defective No-Dragon whose very touch felt like han

ather journal, setting

ed a tear, Deena's eyes flash

aw blood, her lips curved int

makes sense," Deena said, flicking her golden curls. "You'r

se sto

he room turned i

inger toward my chest. "A worthless parasite without a single drop of dragon blood! The moment Father took my mother, your mother was thrown into the freezing court

ell into a dead, s

w her next breath, my arm m

around her throat w

olent motion, I d

stone wall with a sickening crack,

bulged in ins

angled, wet wheeze as her hands

nting steel; she couldn't move m

y eyes locking onto hers with a

play whatever games you want in this house." I tightened my fingers slightly, feeling the violent tremor racking her entire body. "But if you ever drag my mother's name through your filthy

r pampered life, Deena s

rifying certainty tha

ry, and I wo

simply e

led purple as tears of pure p

s in horror, trembling in the doorway, too

onds, letting the cold terror sink deep

silk and jewels, clutching her bruised throat, gas

ually smoothing out t

chilling smile

one of the open cases scattered across the rug, and

n of moon-lily oil and crushed pearl that she religiously appli

for vengeance f

then, right before her terrified, tear-fill

my room," I

pride was utt

ay before stumbling out into the corridor, her frantic weepi