PHIN
d nerves. The King's permission had been spoken only, a fragile thing that could be rescinde
breathing to even out, and be
official marriage contract. My stepmother, Beatrice, stared at me as if I'd gro
e parchment. Seraphina Hayes. From this moment on
trice's smile vanished. "Are you mad?
choice," I
my room, leaving her fuming in the grand entryway. This place h
to my room, preparing for the wedding. I needed to
life. After Damien had grown bored of me, he'd thrown me
coma not long after I became Damien's bride-a
corner, a pathetic heap of rags. He didn't say a word. He just paused, looked at the guard, and nodded toward me
e to him. But to me, it was the only warmth I
his life, I wou
palace gardens. He had regained his usual arr
his little tantrum? It's
oked at him, and felt not
I simply sank into a perfect, f
He grabbed my arm, his grip like iron
nd cold. "Your Highness, I must ask y
then red, then a m
n him, and walked away. I could feel h
hamberlain, formally requesting that my wedding date be moved up. I couldn't
speed. It seemed the King was also eage
as set for th
n of defiance. He was on his way to confront me again when the Queen physically blocked his path, wa
set. My escap
IEN
en registered reaching for it-the priceless dragon-crystal shattering against the floor, the shards biting into my
not ac
or years-who had worshipped the ground I walk
ad, comatose uncle rotting aw
too terrified to even breathe. Good. Let th
r gaze raking over the wreckage with open dis
words tore out of me, raw
before I could stop it, and it startled me more than I car
Damien, control this ridiculous pride of yours. It's obvious what this is
cou
he again. That had to be it. That was the only explanation tha
ould let her play her little game. And when she came crawling back from that dreary northe
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