Court was

ters were tackled, guards clashed with rising protestor

ctly

ye of a br

"Sir... you should leave. You're

nch. "Find out wh

ulled from a dead li

dangerous and cold. "T

sitated. "A

pa

eckage of the court, cloak swirling b

s anymore," he said. "She

ay what he

ing a threat

she got-the more he cou

stared at the map Cade

compromised. Rebel cells raided. Anonymous me

tered. "Now we either burn th

lsa said, sharpening

Zander's going to double down. He won't attack me p

e added. "Your name's too loud

ter at war than af

sn't bitter. It

a knife learning h

on the desk. A scrambled signa

frowning. "This

other end was d

made quite a mes

one f

lently: Is that

a, then back at the

an offer. A deal that could end

rward. "Why wou

t him dead as

used, then a

use I'm h

mmed throug

a started, but C

ne is dead,

as venom. "Zander just buried me

rrowed. "What

quires you t

urse

ry protest,

blade hidden in her sleeve. Cade followed from the sha

abandoned chapel, ruine

regal crimson. Her silver hair spilled like silk acros

almost fond. "The little bon

mother?" Lyra ask

een of Bloodline Council. And the last woman wh

n't you

far he would go to era

arms. "What do y

e. His father left it to me. But Zander forged the marria

tract was

eversal decree, and revoke your consent to the original contract-it makes

ed. "That'

witnesses. And

ned. "Why

nder destroyed everything I loved.

afehouse, Cad

't tru

ed. "Neit

ut

ion seal. With this and one more Council

then

. "Then I end him legally. P

ke this version of you. She pl

"And looks

lly cracke

joy did

ext morning-C

a note, marked with

a? Then watch who pa

e?" Kelsa shouted, t

must've traced his tracker. H

red at t

wasn't

only anchor. Her olde

the note, rage building lik

her a blade.

quietly. "We're

hall, watching Cade tied to

said. "To someone who w

"You think she

didn't

own, he didn't

oked him in the

e made him b

eyes made something c

lou

be jus

e said. "And when she does

ose, voice like win

ouncil, blade in one hand, th

ermission," she said.

rose in

sky cracked

ff in the dungeon be

d through

se he

as co

she wouldn't

nning strai