A'S

the deep blues and silvers of the royal house. A young handmai

," she whispered, curtsyin

k. I walked to the large window overlooking

e truly thought about it. Why had he treated my claim like a negotiation instead of a

new: the Moon Goddess had given me a second life, and Gideon and Seraphina would s

I began my intelligence gathering. "You have

irl, My Lady," s

en... when Lady Seraphina was ex

ment. "Yes, My Lady. We were a

en devastated by her bet

piratorial whisper. "If I may be so bold, My Lady

hat do you mean? The whole kin

hispered. "But not by the Moon Goddess. When she was presented

ell. The position

as because he was without a true Mate. That the lack of a bond was weakening h

phina didn't just steal my fian

rince has been waiting for

. When His Highness took your hand in Prince Gideon's bridal chamber, the gua

nown exactly what I was the moment he tou

e library. He appeared silently at my s

ngs?" he asked, his

the board on which we

chambers are t

thing interesting this morning, Your Highness. You and my sister were never truly bonded.

old smile touched his lips. "You

and smoke clung to the air between us. "The position of my Mate has

insistent. I refused to step back. "You k

th before returning to my eyes. "You felt it too. Yet

ave myself," I said. "

mained unreadable. "You are very brave for a woman who w

held his gaze. "I had no

ir lifted one hand and brushed a loose strand of hair from my cheek, his fi

d. "I have no use

rietary. It was a confessi