e P

er was cold beneath my boots, but t

fingers clawing at the collar of my tunic, d

hrough my spirit channels. At first, it was merely an annoying

d into a dull, throbbing burn, like molten lead

der patrol was accompanied by

hair, her cool, slender fingers pressing into the nape of my neck, releasing a slow,

keep wa

ng in a rose-silk gown embroidered with silver thread

wl of spiced wine, her delicate face pi

pping with practiced honey. "You're pacing like a caged

, desperate for relief, and dr

y stomach, the fire in my chest didn't subside-it flare

clatter, clenching my jaw again

't it w

n-gutting in that freezing cellar, the air

ttered conduits grain by grain. Why did her touch no

the border?" I rasped, rubbing the bridge of my

ou doubt me? You know that saving your life nearly broke my own spirit core. The doctors told me

d heavy, slamme

mbrace, smoothing her hair. "Forgive me, little

fists. "Alaina. She's poisoning your thoughts from afar! She tried her best to conceive your childre

the migraine behind my eyes sharp

creaked open. Hurbert, my chief adjutant, stepped ins

courier bird just broke through the outer perimeter wa

here," I

usly to Candida before stepping forward a

e wax seal w

s neat, sharp, and

e of Cl

he Ringless is hereby summoned for dissolution. The final hour of se

ition of abandonment will be fil

t be

fingers and scanning the lines. "A petition of abandonment? She dares threate

e has no clan, no Oath Ring, and two bastard runts to feed. She's trying to drag you in

on the floor, a dark, venomou

on of ab

ured the silence of my halls without a word of complaint. She was a stray w

use two squalling brutes to f

flaring, rattling the crystal flutes on the

urbert asked

e tonight," I said, a cruel, m

ling on is attached to an executioner's blade. Tomorrow morning, I will sign tha