ea

e frosted stone bank with

p bitter mouthfuls of pond water while the free

led onto the grass, carrying

fingers digging into his chest as she poin

ss the courtyard for every noble Lord and Lady to hear

m, his handsome face twisting with rig

ce carrying the full weight of a high-born knight. "Des

gan to murmur, their judgmental gazes

cripple with no inner wolf,

a knight like Lord Lambert,

f up from the

ut I stood with my spine straight, ref

ffer a tear

eg Emory to

the wet gravel, stopping directly in front of De

er of triumphant cruelty dancin

d swung it with every oun

ac

h echoed off the high stone arches li

ead snappe

en mud, her hair coming undone as five brigh

n plunged into a

submissive Richmond daughter s

the silver pommel of his ceremonial sword. "Are you in

s eyes, completely unfaz

clear and steady. "If my sister insists that I violently shoved her into the pond with

brow f

round, her hand flyin

oth, "her shoulders, neck, and arms will bear the bruising of a struggle. A

breath

r sodden collar shut, h

yone saw it! Emory, please ta

f cleanly, turning my head toward the two white-robed figures push

bound by strict crown o

guards and knelt beside Dessie,

healer's fingertips as he pressed his pal

e senior healer stood up and

uising, no grip marks, and no sign

owd st

everal fine threads of silver-blue silk

ic of Lady Kalea's left wrist. The physical evidence sho

murmurs swept th

at me flipped instantly towar

rned an ugly sh

is sword, caught entirely off

ing toward me with a sti

ened by the water. She lost her he

s grabbed empty air. "Had the healers not been here, you would have gl

chuckle rumbled

a carved marble pillar, wringing the pond

urned with raw contemp

attack and a desperate cling," Gaines drawled, his deep voice carrying easily

urning white, but he dared not draw a b

he heavy, synchronized thud of armored

nobles, their golden wolf banner