lk

eyes dark with barely concealed judgment, h

nd heavy, as her gaze bore int

oice faltering, but I coul

seems the madness has passed," she said fl

ore like a chastisement-an acknowledgment tha

aise that hit me har

again, my heart pounding in my chest,

see anything except treatment for my son." Her voice was

liberate and composed. "Now, you're dismissed. Do

d in the room lik

he spot, as her words wash

ray

s

at she tho

ng more than a p

rded once my purpo

anger and disbelief

rd, trying to

in my throat threatened to s

ood," I

, leaving me alone in the room with nothing bu

low, was the only thing grounding me to reality. But

that I had just crossed a l

an I had fought to bring back, on

hing between us had

is our f

turned back to Ragnor, still lying vulnerable on the bed, h

ty done, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being wa

my throat, reaching out to brush the

skin, the faintest tremor ran

just a sliver at first, then wid

nly the shadows of what he had become. But there wa

aw the flicker of a memory pass through his eyes-a fleeting co

wisting with unfamiliarity, and his hand shot

he rasped, his voic

fr

ds sent a chill down m

biting into my skin. "You don't unders

nce again started to bleed into t

ng at him from the inside. His breath came in ragged gasps, as th

the plea escaping before I could sto

embling. "You don't know what they'll do to you

talking about?

me, it wasn't the Luna Dowager. It was Duncan. His features were tight, fru

a response. His voice was firm,

tling like a stone in my gut. What choice

instrument of their will. And yet... I would gladly be used if it meant being clo

lowly, my ha

mouth, like it didn't belong. But

ing glance at Ragnor. The man I had fought so hard for, now slipping away in th

o watch over him-it didn't sit well with me. Worry cr

e madness

this was

didn't

nd I could feel the ground s