nightshade into a paste. Thaleon lay swaddled on a moth-eaten blanket nearby, her breathing shallow. Moonlight seeped th

throat to suppress her scent. The child squirmed, her small fing

bang at t

Varys strode in, his smirk sharp as a blad

ed cold. "He's

ow

d's chest. The herbs had dulled her scent, but her lashes-long and

aleon. "To see if your *pl

-

t once belonged to Alaric. The room stank of Obsidian Claw's dominance-wolf pelts

h the silence as Nymeria knelt befo

child trembled, her oversize

nostrils flaring. "Still

g the cursed name she'd crafted. "It attacks the blood

ffed. "Co

eon's chin. The child whimpered, he

cursed, p

rwort pod. "The sickness flares when stressed," she said, smearing the pod's juice

coiled. "Di

ressed. "Touch him, and your warri

ar held his ground, his stare

e plague revives." The lie slithered smoothly from her tongu

har waved a dismissive hand. "Keep your rat hidden. But if a si

-

ic, hands shaking. Thaleon slept fitfully, th

nding the child's chest with fresh linen. "N

ifted in th

ued healer, leaned against th

d. "You've never

ing Thaleon. "But I'll play your game... for now. What

her forehead to Thaleon's. "We w

-

-a fake fever induced by feverfew, tremors from crushed spiderroot. Thaleon l

ild's ques

hispered one night, pi

led. "To kee

the Al

the wo

-

courtyard. He circled Thaleon like a vulture, his

her feet, as pract

hair, yanking her hea

down*, she willed silently. *

anced up-and K

he muttered.

e Seraphine's deep green, now swirled with silver at

ed. "It... it changes the ir

d Thaleon like rotten me

a clutched Thaleon's hand

hed, a vial of Thaleon's discar