a P

Goldspire Castle loomed in the distance, perched li

ard the massive drawbridge, o

Carlisle guards stood like statu

menacingly on the hilt of his broadsword. He g

's harsh voice boom

epped out. Every eye turned to me. I wore a

ur party, directly facing

King's decree," I announced, my v

castle will be welcomed by our lord himself. You, a woman of

croll made of cured dragon hide, sealed wi

or entry," I declared,

see the King. Lord Carlisle is a vassal to the throne. Does your lord m

clenched his jaw, a thick sheen of sweat appearing on his brow. He was ca

defy the King. But we have strict protocols. I

o the carriage and began tossing my few meager belongings and Marth

hind me, trembl

ing was found, I looked at him calml

lewd, suggestive gesture. "What's the rush, My Lady? We haven't d

ghter. Martha grabbed my cloak, crying in ter

to the captain. I scanned the pale tint of his lips, the slight trem

my voice carrying over their jeers. "Not when you have a h

instantly. The capt

hey?" I continued, taking a slow step toward him.

d in sheer disbelief. "Ho

hed into my leather waist pouch and retrieved a small, d

ough the air and popped directly into the captain's

heir swords, realizing I wa

" one gua

n't fall. Instead,

ddenly melted away into a soothing warmth. His breathing cleared. He looked

replaced by profound awe and desperation. He d

head deeply. "Generations of doctors couldn't fix this! Pl

on unreadable. "Weren't you just

"We were forced to do this! It was Miss Audrey. She ordered us to give you a har

dr

corner of my mind. The political waters of this castle were i

nd tossed it to the kneeling man. "Give this to you

, My Lady!

shouting at his men to low

fe. I straightened my cloak, lifted my chin, and walked

e faint, eerie glow of raw dragon crystals embedded in the high walls. Th

hall, shrouded in he

heelchair crafted from dar

the air around him actually warp with violent, pureblood dragon energy. He wore black

arlisle. The mons

d more like a dormant, bloodthirsty a

ck. My dormant dragon blood thrilled with a sudden, dange

his mask did not hide. It was pure, molten gold

dangerous rumble that vibrated through my bones. "Are

f to stand tall against the crushing weight of his aura. "From the mom

de? I don't recall agreeing to play

rward in his

irsty savage," Gideon continu

ive this castle. Your father threw away to save hi

answered

. "You think wielding that royal scroll secures your life? In thi

d Carlisle," I said, taking a slow step toward him, staring directly

I had caught his attention. I conti

the throne itself. The King couldn't risk you joining forces with a powerful noble

the cold silence

wedding favor, meant to remind the realm that the fiercest war

vanished from Gideon's face. His golden eye w

n. He had never imagined that a girl discarded in an attic could dissect t

coiled tighter. A suffocating, violent aura surged from his frame as

e right to bargain with me? With a single word,

replied witho

kingdom, but brute force alone cannot di

need a strategist who can see through the throne

a few paces fro

simple curse as the public believes. I can smell the f

rned absolutely lethal in a fraction of a second. The air

down. I held u

andle the royal spies. More importantly, using my ancestral medical ar

elivering my demand. "In ex

widened

"you will lend me your terrifying dark army and your absolute power. I want House Beaumont co

stare

ith terrifying speed, seizing

gy straight to my core. But beneath that heat, I felt the erratic, j

red softly. "Even the greatest Healers in the real

I shot back, my voice unwavering despite his bruisin

e trembling fear he was so accustomed to seeing. He found not

he released my chin and lean

ice dropping to a smooth, dark hum

deal... my hus

well. Three months. We will see if you

Escort the new lady to her chambers. Put her in the Blackwood Wing. And be clear

to mine. "The deal begins now

hall. As the heavy wooden doors began to close behind me, I

more int