Viorica
neck, and I could feel the heat
sing with every beat of our hearts. Whatever wa
d ma
made my st
once believed in love beneath years of hard work, careful planning, and political survival. Now
Lucian w
on
his hand in place without al
olf, Lucian. Lo
them faded, and he withdrew his hand. His jaw rema
Cyprian stared at
ldn't pair the Sovereign bloodline with
u Vale stepped out
lie, Prince. Neither does
his feet, his face
d to the Silver Spire. Her bloo
w his
, Radu pressed his broadswo
warned. "Unless you'd prefer to l
ut his eyes rema
Lucian will use your power to control my kingd
ost l
ise he'd made. I'd defended him, truste
wn away something precious and couldn
carried across the hall. "I belong to no one. N
from him and
g. There was no anger in his expression
ned to
knights to the West Wing. Four guards at every doo
!" Cyprian shouted as
ked at me d
s about your father! Sorina know
nt s
ri
rina-Anca Miron had been my mentor at the Moon Temple, the woman wh
d her more than
ut his final words remained with m
eave us," Lu
du gave me a brief, reassuring n
we wer
his sides. I could tell he was fighting the same insti
ing to run?
from anything
look a
sed m
ly, stopping befor
d Cyprian. You said y
eant
ate just because some ancient magic chose
Lucian simpl
laughe
life surrounded by people who agree with everything I say. I don't need anoth
ssion gre
one can hurt you. But I'm not going to lock
is hand, giving me
his fingers b
pendence, your authority, and your freedom
ed me more than I
r accept the b
e didn'
d your ally. You don't owe me love simply becau
us moment, my d
d obedience. Instead, he
t to do with that
er, a cold draft sw
erhead. Every candle flame tur
swallowed
symbol on the floor. Black smoke rose from the
t from the for
ood Ec
in front of me, drawing the
we he
Tap
e upper gallery, striking th
-white robes. Her silver hair was braided neatly aro
w tha
ess Sorina-
hen the world abandoned me now looked
old, her expres
ined buried in darkne
ach tig
es not permit anyone
the answers to my father's death, I realized
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