ley

Dust motes danced in the single shaft of light from the g

ains marked the border of the Stark territory, Ironwood. Legend said th

ne in this family who had ever brought me warmth. Her laughter, her kindness-all had vanished with the w

in velvet, were rows of herbs that shimmered with a faint light, al

k was my primary suspect. Marrying into the family was the only way

ood there, flanked by two servants carrying a wooden chest. Her face

. Inside were my mother's things-jewelry, books

t of low cunning," Marian said, her hand caressing t

't they? But if you don't obediently marry the Lord Stark, these items, along with everything else s

he items, each one a memory, a piece of my pa

ched. "You wo

ast memories be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The choice is yours." She swept ou

tair Mccarthy, stood in the doorway. He was impecc

d to hide. "Put that thing away. Marian t

s 'savage' tool, I'd likely be gift-wrapped a

family business is in serious trouble. We need the cap

as exiled, left to fend for myself,

hless, his f

e flat. "I'll marry him.

on, flickered in his e

re inheritance, including the estate south of the

possible! That estate

n explain to the Starks why their bride has vanished before the wedd

the Mccarthy family's annual income, paid to me i

were a stranger. "Are you mad?

ly. "Isn't a 'Dragonless' daughter ma

cooperate fully with my reinvestigation into my sis

mix of shock, anger, and a weary, powerless acceptance.

. "The inheritance... I'll see what I can do. T

d immediately. "Not a penny

on a sheet of parchment bearing the Mccarthy family's drago

ching as he stamped i

hope you don't regret this, Keeley. Corne

I just needed to use him to find the truth. Then he, and e

ulled out a worn silver bracelet, Kamilah's only memento she'd le

rmant in the black market, Rhys Porter. I neede

o arm myself. Money an