ina

us's broad shoulders as he stepped into the na

h he held back the glow of his gold-and-violet Brow Scale, the sheer

knees and forced myself to me

long legs, and rested his hands on the marble table. The pl

d cold. "Turning my affliction, the High Council's schem

, fighting the t

know I wasn't boasting. It's a fair

cold face closing the distance betwee

a cast-off woman dumped by my o

stung, but I ke

ale is dead ash-gray, not a single elder at the Great T

se and spite the High Council," I continued evenly. "That makes me

le. For a second, something dark and sharp flickered

" he repeat

the High Council and I take back the Antai Guild, we

a short,

ally have it all figure

across my cheek. The cold metal of his platinum ring grazed my skin. My whole body

ship-even in name-getting off isn't

o keep my composure, though my

eeching family and keep what my parents

nd back, his face settling

At least you

" I asked, my fingers gripping the

ight, looking down at me l

this ma

ant. I let out a quiet breath, barely believing the m

lood-ink scroll," Augustus added coldly, glancing toward the win

our ties, and pack your bags," he ordered. "In three days, meet me at the High Council side h

and incli

out of the Anderson estate today, I w

eat longer, a faint curve tou

e see a crying cow

nly when his footsteps faded down the marble hal

my back damp with cold sweat, before grabbin

umped out from beside a rented

piece? I saw him walk out the side gate ju

d," I sai

hands over her mou

You really made a dea

street toward the Inner Atolls estates. "Now I have to go home and settle