ina

ls around her fingers-my mother Eleanor's favori

even saying goodbye to Mother?" She ste

nd looked a

ut of

er, dropping her sweet act as she lowered h

ke a stray dog is the best thin

our place? To the great houses, a Spirit-less freak who can

on the flagstones, took one fast step fo

ngers dug into her chee

unconscious," I whispered right into her ear. "Did you really think a little cosmetic

k to pinpricks, her ha

ou talking abou

staring into her terrified green eyes. "The higher you climb on

hite hem and crashed against the coral pillar

ght past her shoulder and walked

cramped alleys of the Outer Shoals. Half an hour later, I hauled my trunk up to my third-floor apartme

I let out a long breath. In thre

stus

the Void Aurora Command Tower, a Sovereign barrier shut out the de

r Realms in my black cloak, rolling a newly for

e, Vince Tucker, walked in, bowed his head, angled his neck,

r Gr

marker for the Antai Merch

did i

"Three weeks ago, our agents brought Genevra Anderson from the border

ae scent and the carefully revived lie about the mine rescue, he took the bait. To

s I looked down at the tiny cor

is always the easi

a beat before spea

why not tell Lady Katrina the truth? Why let her believe

he small platinum ring in my

I said quietly. "If I came to her at full strength asking for her hand, s

nks she holds the reins will make her lower

ed his he

she now?

n hour ago and returned to her

tal window into the dark a

he High Council's official marriage regis

num ring once more

wife. And this time, no one will