eight that was too heavy, too solid, and

ed second, I thought the fever had finally melted my brain, but the scent was too real

zed what my b

my hand-the same hand that had spent years delicately grinding herbs-had strayed beneath the silk lapel of his robe. My palm

is teeth, sounding like steam venting from a high-pressure pipe.

o a pair of stormy indigo irises

resting, and against what. The hard, demanding reality of his body w

A

ng backward in a bli

IN

on chain sn

of

the very leash he'd put on me. My lips grazed the rough, cold stubble of his jaw in an accidental, breathles

h magic. I went as stiff as a board, my heart hammeri

mped a hand around my waist, pinning me down t

ove," he

from a predator holding back its own hunger by a thread. "Unles

a man escaping a crime scene. He stood with his back to me, his broad shoulders blocki

t clinical, distant cold. "Get yourself together.

owed was a masterclass

my hand feeling like a lead weight. The si

s here. There is a public execution in the square at noon-a suspected cell of 'Cind

AN

my face. "Guest of honor." I knew what that meant. Malles wanted to

ed, my fingers clawing at

. He didn't even look up from his black coffee

ng hall," Linus said, ignoring my pro

ld stone. He had shed his vest and coat, standing in the c

sed a wooden trai

ng that emerald velvet dress-a heavy, suffocating cage of

ou burn," Linus said, stepping into my space. "If you go to that square as a victim, you'll be

arning, h

cross the shins. I tried to skip back, but the floor-length velvet skir

emerald fabric, now damp with my own frantic sweat, felt like i

us barked, lo

p on the thick velvet again. I tried to rip the fabric with my bare hands, but

me, the heavy heels of his boots thudding on the mat.

d-Iron sword at his hip. I froze. He didn't draw the blade. I

ll," he c

th the drafty air of the hall. He hooked the edge of the sheath

II

op until the slit reached my mid-thigh, exposing my bruised skin and the white lace of

eyes darkening as he looked at m

t. I didn't wait for him to move. I lunged, snatching th

ed his body into mine, caging me. One hand clamped around my throat-firm enough to let me fe

ng onto my lip. "When the fire starts, the crowd will scream.

r against his own chest, right over the spot where his

kill me for what I've done. Turn all that te

"As long as you're trying to figure out how to cut my throat, you won't feel

voice sounding more

his gaze hungry. "Again. Throw yourself