Serra

mpletely muffle the laughter and celebration coming from the main hall. In the

shawl over my shivering shoulders, and fell into step b

ed to bow so low their noses nearly touched the floor whenever I passed, now openly lined

r title. She's just a personal maid n

ss jinx anyway," a guard snickered, his e

my past life, these whispers were like knives to my heart. Now, t

cold hit me instantly. The dragon-crystal heater was completely d

ut, sealing us inside, Phoebe

g desperately into the cold floorboards. "He knew how much that night destroyed you! How co

n who shared my deepest trauma, the last

he tears from her face. "Tears cannot wash away the blood of our families. Brian said House Serrano i

the corner of the room. They were made of ironwood, unique

from House Serrano. It was also my

from a smaller box. My mother had left it to me. It r

crystal lamp, I began to ca

ld of the North, guarding the realm fo

ere heavily surrounded. Shortly after, Veskarian assassins slipped through the broken defense line like ghosts, infiltratin

mad act of revenge by the enemy for m

w, in my second life, I k

d squadron that was supposed to reinforce my father. But they were mysteriously "delayed." Their

eing burned alive by her dragonfire, a chilling realization crep

ed the edge of the chest, gasping for breat

or that. First, I ha

also eighty servants who had come with me to the Castro estate

e I married into their family, these peopl

were

wife's dowry belongs to her and her al

marital dissolution that allowed the female to

parties, or... a direct comman

anted my freedom and my dignity. We would set

d put it back. The pla

my father, Corbin Serrano, had been one of King Aurthur's most trusted D

about that favor. But

was a chanc

rrano-owned business, farm, and mine. Cease all fund transfers to the Castro estate. Cut off their food supplies,

erce, vengeful fire. "You mean.

s the 'petty chores' of managing a Dragon Court, let's see

fting toward the distant, towering spires of the

, folded the letter, and sealed it with the Serrano

I ordered, handing the heavy envelope to Phoebe. "Ride thro