black doors etched silver sigils and into

or, and the air smelled of old smoke and cold stone. Tall doorways lined both sides of the

ng me?" My voice ca

" the guard said, a

n in a high-collared dress stood waiting with he

d. "His Majesty ordered her t

avy frame and my rough slave tunic.

ng rooms, arrange the studies, and help serve mea

m." I held

on. You will not touch their belongings. If a king gives yo

erst

down this room. You

out my wolf, my body felt heavy and slow. Every muscle ached, but I kept

black glass table when

spot," a sharp

olded, glaring at the table. Near the f

ry, Your

. We do not tolera

n. My hand did not sha

nts on the edge of the desk. "Put these in order by d

Your M

it down on his dark oak desk. I traced the dates stamped in gold along each pa

n a critical eye over the pil

ou, Your

. "Do not mistake a basic task done

lmly, and looked him

I didn't. After a long moment, he waved a hand

alachi was pacing near the iron-bound doors lik

ment he saw me. "Take th

lled. It barely moved. I bent my knees, shifted my grip, and tried again. Back home, a trunk

th a smirk. "Too h

gritted my teeth and h

asting my ti

s burned, and my breath came in ragged gasps. I would not put it down. When we reach

me, move

my best, Yo

adequate." He slammed

collar felt tight around my throat. My father had sold me. Brandon had rejecte

shoulders. They could give me cruel tasks an

long dining table when Dorian strolled in. He leaned again

from Blackpine Pack," he said

around the goblet.

he whole pack." He took a slow step toward th

e floor with the laughter ringing in my ears. I set the go

es, Your Majesty. I woul

for tears, or for any crack to pry op

n fo

ked up the empty tray and headed for the kitchens, two whispers

girl her own

d stray. I wonder how many days she'll last

. Their words stung, but I would not let strangers watch me

ered me to serve dinner

as stone. Cassian sat at his right. Malachi and Dorian sat across from each other. Julian read a

without a sound. When I set Valerius's plate i

shed your task

t carried the kind of command

Your M

oo

inst the wall and

rape of knives on plates. Then Malachi

stand why we keep he

ither do I. She is u

g across the table. "Why let a common, rejected shifter into our p

ed his arms. "Perhaps the mi

oor. My jaw ached

oblet. The room seemed

t once. "She is entirely un

nd icy. "She stays. Her duties will be carried out as order

alachi and Cass

d for Malachi's silver goblet. As I pulled it ba

slipped fro

's width above the stone floor. One

denied him a scene, and he kn

ty." I set the g

, and Valerius's

yr

im. "Your

athering is coming at the end of the week. You will be presented to the entire vampire nob

ght of the whispers in the corridor, an

h, straightened my

od, Your