a Robbi

r than thunder, vibrating through the thick crystal pa

ring the throbbing pain in my lower body,

eet below, the bustling crowds of merchants, commone

eople dropped to their knees, pressing their faces aga

e city was compl

their scales shimmering with an incandescent crimson-gold hue that

ale Sub-

, possessing wingspans broad enough t

side the city walls a

to the air, creating a hurricane of wind that ripped banners from their poles and shatter

t my lips before I even

ed behind his back, his eyes fixed on the c

t know how to knock,

ron-reinforced doors of the outer cor

rebounded as half a dozen figures strode into the Grand Sun Suite, c

ont walke

g cloak of dark gold trimmed with black fur, her lon

ished Dragonslayer Gold, and at her hip

ng, terrifying wave of pure dragonfire t

ess Germai

s the room and locked onto my face, the lethal, te

d dead in

e leather riding gloves,

s she took in my hollow cheeks, my matted hair, and th

clad in dark plate armor, his face weathered by decades of war-f

Thanks to Eben's initial introduct

ight-blue robes and silver cuffs of the K

ild, fire-red hair, the insignia of the Royal T

f them

s burning into me with an intensity that

single, shudderi

her voice cracking int

le word shattered whatever defensive shell I ha

the Grand Duchess crossed the vas

ful, armored arms wrapped around my shoulde

stplate, burying her face

guttural and wild, tearing from the depths of her s

ed on pur

a sudden touch meant a shove, a ba

hands clenched into tight fists, my bod

of her tears soaking through my cheap

elle

he cleanest, hottest dragonfire I had ever known-a scent that called to s

rest on the back of my head, pre

ms wrapping around both of us, his great chest heaving as silent, hea

bled, his deep voice breaking like cracking stone. "E

of cold cellars, cruel laughter, and Kraig's c

ing sound tore

ne's cloak, and I buried my face in the curve of her neck, weeping with

h me, holding me cradled in her lap as if I were still th

s, my hair, over and over, murmuring

d, their eyes bloodshot, their jaws clench

nd, his fingers lightly brushing a str

is fierce, boyish face contorted with grief.

ds cupping my face, her thumbs gently

y the rough collar of my dress, then to my bloodstained hem, a

face hardened into an expressio

lethal, freezing whisper that made the hair on my arms stand up.

g in my mouth.Finally, I simply recounte

ploding forge tore

ed with pure, crim

ite with static heat, his hand snapping to

voice a guttural dragon roar as he turned toward the door.

fingers slowly tightening around the pommel of his ceremonial blade. "