HINA'

pushed open the heavy oak doors, but the ceremony itself had not yet begun. Rather than take my place at the front, I

d handed it to Moira. "Get this to the Cro

Prince Alistair Vaughn was a man known for his cold ruthlessness, disliked e

For a time, I wandered through the world like a shadow, unable to touch anything o

family long after I was gone. I never learned why he did it. But in this life, I had no intention of waiting u

to the Beaumont residence in the capital. Use our best Dragon-blood horse

ragon-blood horse-a steed bred for extraordinary speed and endurance

asking my uncle to begin se

rlier, had never returned to his home village as she believed. Fearing for his life, he had fled to a village on Beaumo

been hiding. I had written both in the letter. If Finn was still t

ruth from nothing. I had already handed them

ter was my insurance. It was a signal to m

ick,"

tters securely into her dress and h

aving my shoulders. The pieces were in moti

ed, and a prim, haughty

r wet nurse and now the housekeeper of the Croft estate

eremony is about to begin. The mistress is asking for you." The "mistress" she r

cool glance

ter and mistress have prepared such a grand ceremony for you.

g, as if I were still a l

owly to my feet. I was taller than

rst-born daughter of this house is." M

ance draining away. She had

ace to tell me what to do in my ow

, her haughty expressi

warned her. "Or I won't m

y from her,

ntricate silver thread in the pattern of dragon-flames, a design exclusive

. The woman in the mirror was radiant, ye

to speak. She simply bowed her head an

th and walked out,

door was my

n faltered as I emerged from the side room and began walking toward the place res

ted them al

Now, as I walked toward the center of the ceremony with every piece of