nna

ter, sitting directly beneath the thick hemp ro

f in her head, and she scrambled backward on hands and knees, trying to

I pointed casually at two burly courtyard guards. "You two.

tated, looking

spread her arms like a rabid hen in front of her daughte

de, I snapped at the two guards, "Don't make me repeat m

b Kristal. Vivian shrieked, clawing and bit

slender, paralytic bone thorn straight into the base of Vivian's neck. The neurotoxic venom locked Vivian's nervous system instantly.

kles in heavy iron shackles and hauled on the pulley rope looped over the oak branch. Her body was wrenc

"Third Sister, I'll ask you one last time. Pushing m

led purple as she cursed hysterically, "Elianna Stanley! Y

ation." I made a subtle downward motio

the rope. The line went slack, and Kristal plunged

glug

Kristal thrashed and convulsed against the heavy metal rim like a landed fish. The retainers and guards along the edges o

y head, tracking the burning ache in h

e coughed violently, vomiting mouthfuls of bile and dirty water onto the flagstones a

through the silent courtyard. "When I plunged into the freezing torrent at the bottom of

keep from losing consciousness, watching my lacerated skin turn ghost-white in t

nly watch with bloodshot, weeping eyes, letti

er," I murmured coldly, snappi

istal's head plunged back

re was barely

Thirty seconds

g lifelessly from the overhead rope as the

petrified wail shattered the courtyard silence from the outer archway

ike a resurrection charm

ith her jaw still locked and drool leaking from her lip, her throat produced a grotesque, vibrating hiss of triumph. Her gla

y hoisted her red-and-gold skirts, her terrified cringe melting into a sickening sneer of absolute vindication. S

with frantic delight as she sprinted toward the entrance. "Wel

OAA

the overcast sky wide open! The massive creature's wings cast a suffocating shadow over the c

through the entryway, splintering t

debris, trailing the stench of scorched iron and fresh battlefield slaughter. The raw, predatory

ayed, unconscious Beatrice bound to the tree, and Kristal dangling half-drow

dragonfire erupted along the seams of his armo