en
mbers was kicked open withou
ed peacock, her silk gown shimmering
upcoming royal engagement feast-a celebra
ncing velvet-lined jewel cases laden with
ook up fro
hes in my mother's worn leather journal, cataloging the neuroto
as nothing more than a pas
ce was a sharper slap
e tightened into
, snatching the leather journal from under my fing
he book against the baseboard. "A No-Dragon should learn how to beg
r a moment, then
shed the dust from its weathered co
y fed her twis
ly stroking the magnificent teardrop
voice dripping with vanity. "He calls it The Dragon's Blood. He
ing down until her breath felt
usly. "He said you were a bore. A cold, defective No-Dragon whose very touch felt like han
ather journal, setting
ed a tear, Deena's eyes flash
aw blood, her lips curved int
makes sense," Deena said, flicking her golden curls. "You'r
se sto
he room turned i
inger toward my chest. "A worthless parasite without a single drop of dragon blood! The moment Father took my mother, your mother was thrown into the freezing court
ell into a dead, s
w her next breath, my arm m
around her throat w
olent motion, I d
stone wall with a sickening crack,
bulged in ins
angled, wet wheeze as her hands
nting steel; she couldn't move m
y eyes locking onto hers with a
play whatever games you want in this house." I tightened my fingers slightly, feeling the violent tremor racking her entire body. "But if you ever drag my mother's name through your filthy
r pampered life, Deena s
rifying certainty tha
ry, and I wo
simply e
led purple as tears of pure p
s in horror, trembling in the doorway, too
onds, letting the cold terror sink deep
silk and jewels, clutching her bruised throat, gas
ually smoothing out t
chilling smile
one of the open cases scattered across the rug, and
n of moon-lily oil and crushed pearl that she religiously appli
for vengeance f
then, right before her terrified, tear-fill
my room," I
pride was utt
ay before stumbling out into the corridor, her frantic weepi
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