Merce

n the vaulted corridor t

covered by a warm glass dome. Beside it rested a tall c

ed the

along the meat, the exact sear on the edges, and even the angle of the silver carving k

e credenza, fidget

asked, cutting a small piece of th

smoky crust that only high-level dragonfire could produce.

sked guard brought it from the lower scullery. He

used above

a

ng over the platter. Beneath the aroma of roasted meat lay t

ve a slow,

d forty thousand dragon riders, standing over a scull

the warm vitality of the meat chasin

turned my eyes toward the dar

out,

into the candlelight, his tall fra

High

toward him until I stood

o my breath brushed the top of his hood. "Where did a common

ed, his voice coming out strained and rough. "In the northern garr

ng at the base of his throat. "I was under the impression that only a pure-blood

ng red. He jerked back a fraction of an inch,

e rasped, keeping his face tu

osture for a long momen

miss

anished through the archway l

n Har

he outer colonnade, my chest heaving as if I had ju

up, touching the co

with a sharp, agonizing throb. The soul-devouring curse was gnawing

fusing to let a single gr

my collar. Her pure golden eyes had loo

hideous Lord of the North-she would recoil in disgust. A pure-blood princess

de the estate walls snapped my

lared with savag

lf-blood cur dared to step within a mile of her bedchambe