ne's
r of Lunaris filled the seats, all dressed in their finest robes. Banner
e a prize being displayed. My dress was beautiful, silve
he suitors we
t Kingdom. Too old, with cold eyes
rely looked at me. His eyes stayed on Morgana, the High Witch C
rn Lakes. He smiled too much
red I wante
ightshade ste
p features. Handsome in a cold way. His robes were
" he said, hi
is moment. The honor of c
"would be" made my skin crawl. Like h
old. His touch made me want to pull away but I
ng his formal title even though he wa
htly. He'd noticed the
a feast. I was seated at the high
lene," Morgana said. She smiled
king forward to this
his interest," I
" Morgana continued, her voice l
th our families united, your positi
nsequences. Morgana controlled much of the Council. S
before deciding," I said. My voice was stead
ile didn't r
re you'll make the rig
this hall and never come back. But I h
doors ope
e arr
well-made clothes. His hair was black and slightly mes
ight. Like the wol
art s
rrival," the man said, h
from the Eastern Kingdoms. I recei
na fr
proving a merchant
n rare magical item
The Council sent the invitation to my father, but
ts to participate in the ceremony.
wanted to refuse him but
ll. Take
t the lower tables. But as he w
recognition I'd felt at the b
eathe. Couldn
e he felt it too. Then he quickly l
hing about him was familiar. Those eyes. The way he moved. B
eing ri
stayed glued to my side, talking about his accompl
earching the c
ted," Thorne said
t tired,
een a l
ire," he said. But his
u the rose garden. I had them
ker part of the gardens. Away from t
y, I thi
ake a moment,"
he's tired," a v
. His face was polite
on my arm be
vate conversat
very private," A
e the lady wan
dare
free. "Thank you for the offer, but I
y heart pounded. I headed deeper into
. The sound of water was calming. I sa
ou alr
few feet away, hands rais
rtled me
to make sure he d
or intervenin
other end of the bench. Not too
should have been awkward but it w
be here, do you?" A
, surprised by
that ob
nding your own execution i
t was bitter
tly what it
hy
't get to choo
out before I
Thorne. It's political. Strate
," Adrian said. H
hoose their own path. E
ere intense but kind. There was something in them. Somet
ou want is forbidde
if following your heart i
trong it made my hands shake. I wanted to move closer
He leaned toward me slightly
face twisted with pain. He grabbe
" I asked, rea
e said quickl
d go. It
ai
away, almost running. Lik
ed and frustrated.
nto the shadows. For just a second, in t
sive wolf where Adri
was gone. Just da
eeing things. That I was tired and st
n't shake t
That familiar pul
d to myself. "Th
to my chambers, the
ly was t
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