o the maids' dormit
he had already been humiliated in front of the entire pack.
ed the door, her st
d on the cold stone floor. Her h
h
eper, as if someone had reached inside
bo
l feel where i
y dress clung to her skin, damp with spilled champagne and sweat.
eel Killian's han
still hear
mist
laugh esc
nt of hundreds of people. Then he had summoned he
ht she would
m. One word from him could give her a comfortable room, beautiful clothes, and pr
second, she had w
him. Not even becaus
nted to fe
r and see more than a wolfless handm
r love. He had offered her a p
, but he did not want an
face with the b
ed to the empty r
r thin nightdress. Her cot creaked when she lay
herself and turne
efused
re her. His silver eyes burned with anger, but there had been
remembere
once be
d her a friend. They had shared sweets beneath the stairs, whispered secrets af
vernight, ever
opped eating with Kora. Soon, she began givi
ever under
med of having a wolfless girl as a friend. Perhap
ever, had fe
ian reject her with a smi
tomach t
ck came at
sa
is
me.
The young maid stood outside,
rong?" Ko
wants you in the ea
heart
he say
ooked upset. I think somethi
ask for t
Just
her wanted to stay in bed an
the princess, and Kora
ss over her nightdress
you,
caught her arm
re you a
on almost
someone
a small smil
convinced, but sh
empty corridor tow
incess had changed out of her golden ball gown and now w
ossed, and her f
he said.
ent fo
sed a hand to
't fee
oser. "Should I
N
ou loo
before she quickly softened it. "I'm s
udied h
eat somet
shook h
asts. I think someone pu
went
ha
e looked at her. "Y
e tables. You asked for wa
id
es
lips presse
carrying a tra
ants. I wasn't the on
e in
her into the
small table stood beside the window, ho
a tiny glass vial fi
sto
is t
ointed at
as in m
vial. A bitter smel
s insi
to the healer I calle
stomach
de was p
didn't put
ked up the e
prints are o
ndreds of gla
r scent
hook h
ched your wi
set the g
, neither of
worried expres
ve stayed wher
tared
ha
I didn't notice how K
eject
hambers." Vivienne stepped closer.
lood tur
you kn
it m
I didn't
cruel. "You were simply unlucky enou
ok a st
lanned
's eyes
ut of my way.
ld hardl
ave I ever d
exi
simple that Kora
r a small bell on t
ards entered
," Vivien
backe
can't d
s," Vivienne said. "Take
seized Ko
truggled. "I did
and to her stomach a
. He examined the goblet and via
nfirmed. "She needs
ite swept in
happ
whispered. "Someone
s gaze land
ou
! I didn'
ssed the room
d snapped
e shouted. "We gave you a place to
d blood in
't pois
hook her h
a has been upset tonight. The King reje
Kora cried. "I wou
her daughter, her e
end her. You have
eyes filled
ll my frie
tared
ie
rt more tha
rward and wrapped h
ainst Kora's ear. "You should
nd spoke loudly enough
uld never do th
pped str
was no
ould bel
from the room while Viv
! I'll speak to the King. I
o sincere that Kora
mo
ll was dark, d
s pulled against her chest. She had no idea how
oor o
an en
d on her, and her hear
or
ood qu
didn't poiso
guard, who hand
nce says o
evidence
goblet. Your scent was on it. T
erved drinks
s jaw ti
ries the dea
ingers w
nt, but hearing him say it
ered. "You know I w
, his expres
e look
you mercy. She believes you m
's l
napped bac
r next word
swall
I don't know w
pproached
have avoide
ared a
ha
have accept
ng hit her
this because she refused
d her because I woul
made a fool
eyes
d have to hide every day. I said no
curled at
and I can stil
ent, Kora i
not belong to another servant. Guards w
long to someone who ha
be the woman h
she
flickered
en
en
or a long moment b
banished from the Northern Realm. If s
ipped t
please! I'
rned
ke
slammed b
nto the ben
s not death.
but perhaps that was better than stay
r forehead aga
, "please let this be the daw
rose in
s arms ar
oft v
y friends will be wai
fted he
drained fr
t planned to ha
nned to hav
wn was
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