a P

flinch, but her shock qu

greater insult than any sc

aintained cracked, and her bea

t, you freak!" Isis spat,

red, crossing her arms. "It's pathetic, really. Let

er voice dropping

irsty monster. His last two brides didn't even survive the winter! Y

my attention to a weathered w

dust from its brass hinge, my

ir shattered Isis's last r

Are you deaf?" Isis sh

wooden box shut and

Lord," I said, my voice cutting thro

t my dead mother's gold buying this manor, you woul

screamed, rai

ll this shouting?" a voice

put on a fake look of disapproval, acting as the

e-to-be, after all. You should at lea

Manners for what? A merchant's daughter is still lowborn, even

the two cruel sisters burst i

ression completely unchanged

ough their giggles, "then Isis should be the one to marry him. I am sure the Lord would absolutel

ter died

If I refused to get in that carriage, the King's decree would force her precio

he grabbed Isis and Livia by their arms,

ng at me. "Why waste your breath

a were clearl

her off too easily," Livia gr

ched the

ded. "Did I say

ant fury. "We were willing to let you off the

hem. A fraction of my awakened draconic aura leaked into the ai

tly. "And slap your own fa

ensity of my gaze made

t them, but their pride

my eyes and knew I wasn't bluffing about the carriage. Her despera

g on her own daughters. "Isis, L

gasped in she

era screamed, her fa

frustration, the two spoiled sis

p.

ed in the attic. They weren't crying; they were glaring at me

nd out, her face flushed

and gave a small, dismissiv

om like beaten dogs, closing

ened. With my newly awakened hearing, the s

rts so much!" Li

ne dripping with venomous hatred. "Let the lit

!" Isis cried angrily. "Sh

pped from Vespera's lips, chi

Goldspire Castle. Everything has been arranged. The moment that de

haha

laughter faded down