e's poin

understan

t me like I was somethi

was something he

e touched

fter the banquet. No explanation. No emotion. Just a s

to the East Wing

Vladi

g no

d anything

banquet like a lamb in a den of wolves. She'd done well,kept her head down, didn't even g

ot s

Ashen's chambers, head lowered

spoke behi

nt

nlit fireplace that still radiated warmth. A map of the northern territories

window, staring a

't look

week," he said. "Clean. Sort.

our Hig

narrowing. "Why do you a

"You orde

And if I orde

ll fo

I'm watching you, Nicholas. Every step. E

sor

not,"

forward.

n't f

d to amuse

g. My pulse drummed in my ears. I cou

e turn

rounds. In

ancing with death. Beautiful

recision, parried the fourth with a twis

lence, their expressions ra

lock. Spi

h

ht me o

m under me and I hit the mat with

me,pinning me down, arm across m

cl

he

aw

ned my face. O

changed in

sn't

n't tr

was

a

mouth. I saw the mome

d forward,an

art s

th

rked

f bu

and turned away, shoulde

he ground, too s

dn't

look

," he

le

-

palace walls gro

let shattered against the throne room wall. He barked at a servant

unrav

as the

nica had cast a spe

said so,

, fingers curled around a bowl of ink. The liquid swirl

cr

of wil

eeling at

a s

her hand free, ink splatt

ce shaking with something betw

nd the corner befo

e palace gates opened fo

ned from the N

ispers. The king's cousin. Brutal. Loy

torm in furs,broad, loud, charmin

room with a clap of arms an

en he

mile

eyes flicking over me l

nt," Ash

rowed. "He smel

said n

't correct

I had two enemies

couldn't bea

panel behind the servant's quarters. The tunnels were dark and tight, smell

g roots in the corner, her

he saw me. Her eyes were wide, fr

hug, blinking back tears.

e asked. "They said they needed

'm trying to find a way out. Ju

at me, jaw tig

ed. "I'll

t get to

e the kitchen ma

o the pantry

ssed. Fee

e ent

t a slow

to Nicolina. "I'

my room, the cand

ng felt

scanning the floor.

en I s

agg

neath th

mbled as I

. Sharp. Fre

he hilt was a sl

scrawled in b

e. One wrong move,