o the maids' dormit

he had already been humiliated in front of the entire pack.

ed the door, her st

d on the cold stone floor. Her h

h

eper, as if someone had reached inside

bo

l feel where i

y dress clung to her skin, damp with spilled champagne and sweat.

eel Killian's han

still hear

mist

laugh esc

nt of hundreds of people. Then he had summoned he

ht she would

m. One word from him could give her a comfortable room, beautiful clothes, and pr

second, she had w

him. Not even becaus

nted to fe

r and see more than a wolfless handm

r love. He had offered her a p

, but he did not want an

face with the b

ed to the empty r

r thin nightdress. Her cot creaked when she lay

herself and turne

efused

re her. His silver eyes burned with anger, but there had been

remembere

once be

d her a friend. They had shared sweets beneath the stairs, whispered secrets af

vernight, ever

opped eating with Kora. Soon, she began givi

ever under

med of having a wolfless girl as a friend. Perhap

ever, had fe

ian reject her with a smi

tomach t

ck came at

sa

is

me.

The young maid stood outside,

rong?" Ko

wants you in the ea

heart

he say

ooked upset. I think somethi

ask for t

Just

her wanted to stay in bed an

the princess, and Kora

ss over her nightdress

you,

caught her arm

re you a

on almost

someone

a small smil

convinced, but sh

empty corridor tow

incess had changed out of her golden ball gown and now w

ossed, and her f

he said.

ent fo

sed a hand to

't fee

oser. "Should I

N

ou loo

before she quickly softened it. "I'm s

udied h

eat somet

shook h

asts. I think someone pu

went

ha

e looked at her. "Y

e tables. You asked for wa

id

es

lips presse

carrying a tra

ants. I wasn't the on

e in

her into the

small table stood beside the window, ho

a tiny glass vial fi

sto

is t

ointed at

as in m

vial. A bitter smel

s insi

to the healer I calle

stomach

de was p

didn't put

ked up the e

prints are o

ndreds of gla

r scent

hook h

ched your wi

set the g

, neither of

worried expres

ve stayed wher

tared

ha

I didn't notice how K

eject

hambers." Vivienne stepped closer.

lood tur

you kn

it m

I didn't

cruel. "You were simply unlucky enou

ok a st

lanned

's eyes

ut of my way.

ld hardl

ave I ever d

exi

simple that Kora

r a small bell on t

ards entered

," Vivien

backe

can't d

s," Vivienne said. "Take

seized Ko

truggled. "I did

and to her stomach a

. He examined the goblet and via

nfirmed. "She needs

ite swept in

happ

whispered. "Someone

s gaze land

ou

! I didn'

ssed the room

d snapped

e shouted. "We gave you a place to

d blood in

't pois

hook her h

a has been upset tonight. The King reje

Kora cried. "I wou

her daughter, her e

end her. You have

eyes filled

ll my frie

tared

ie

rt more tha

rward and wrapped h

ainst Kora's ear. "You should

nd spoke loudly enough

uld never do th

pped str

was no

ould bel

from the room while Viv

! I'll speak to the King. I

o sincere that Kora

mo

ll was dark, d

s pulled against her chest. She had no idea how

oor o

an en

d on her, and her hear

or

ood qu

didn't poiso

guard, who hand

nce says o

evidence

goblet. Your scent was on it. T

erved drinks

s jaw ti

ries the dea

ingers w

nt, but hearing him say it

ered. "You know I w

, his expres

e look

you mercy. She believes you m

's l

napped bac

r next word

swall

I don't know w

pproached

have avoide

ared a

ha

have accept

ng hit her

this because she refused

d her because I woul

made a fool

eyes

d have to hide every day. I said no

curled at

and I can stil

ent, Kora i

not belong to another servant. Guards w

long to someone who ha

be the woman h

she

flickered

en

en

or a long moment b

banished from the Northern Realm. If s

ipped t

please! I'

rned

ke

slammed b

nto the ben

s not death.

but perhaps that was better than stay

r forehead aga

, "please let this be the daw

rose in

s arms ar

oft v

y friends will be wai

fted he

drained fr

t planned to ha

nned to hav

wn was