te Coo

Kiya dropped her meek facade, slumped heavily onto the edg

aughter, bloated on trade-gold, couldn't even stomach your birth mother, driving both your parents int

rds to twist the dagger in my heart whenever

in Kiya, slandering our clan elders and my mother behind closed doors-is th

me in sheer disbelief. "Cousin? Why...

d of rotten concoction did you send over earlier? I agreed to feign a mild ailment to avoid troubl

and tearing her throat out. Seeing that round, deceptively innocent face brought back the scorching memory of the

suddenly relaxed my posture, letting a brilli

plans every step for my sake, constantly worrying over my affairs. As your elder sister,

d my smile made the hairs on her neck stand on end. Still, years

augh. "I begged an experienced apothecary for that draught. Perhaps your constitution was si

reached forward an

ite Wolf bloodline flared outward. The air between us dropped in temperature, an

ever, I have changed my mind. As a trueborn daughter of the Third Household, it wo

ou forgotten the humiliating spectacle you made of yourself at last year's gala? The highborn pack ladies in

ated concern. "Which is why, if you were to attend in my place

r lips parting

arlord. Even if those proud ladies sneer in private, clan law forbids them from scorning my house to my face. L

rip tightening around

daughters born of lawfully wedded Lunas. If a baseborn daughter like you oversteps her station to follow beh

e jaw. She had never imagined that the timid girl she held on a leash would wield

fury for the sake of the palace invitation. Pulling a linen kerchief from her slee

ranted three presentation slots under royal writ, and leaving one empty would offend the roy

ear such burdens, dear cousin. I will attend in full standing, and when the roya

not do this! You know how harsh Aunt Vivienne is with me! Because you swore you would not go, I had to beg her on my

rs and let out a light, airy ch

bracelet, crowned with an uncut Abyssal Emerald and carved with ancient lunar warding ru

r directly to my stewards," I said, my eyes wide with angelic innocence as I dealt the final blow. "Our household may lac

of humiliation and venom. She looked at the raw emerald and gold on my wrist-an heirloom she could not