time for me to be par

garment onto th

was

ins they were forc

ght is the celebration of the heir. You will stand in the back. You wi

he dress o

, failing to cling to the c

, surviving on tepid tap water and the echo

the grand ballroom

men who killed for a living and women who looked

ar, invisible to everyone but the securit

at the cente

his tuxedo, the King of

g in white silk, the baby res

d forward, a mi

d open a v

f a quail egg glittered v

nced, her voice booming. "For givi

in polite, thun

took t

onto Sofi

and pressed a k

trobes, blinding me, burning the i

t not

leaf, crumbling to

Sofia

rse sh

he nanny and waved me ov

ing with a sweetness that tasted like sacchari

s sliding over me-the mistress,

stif

cross the crowd,

gaze seemed to say

d, my legs movi

place next

e, smiling radiant

whispered through her teeth. "

ahead, focusing

e world

aden with thousands of roses and suppo

with the screech

d before a

dn't

lun

ackl

nto the carpet as the steel frame crashed

tals filled the air

ell over

ad, his hands check

demanded, his voi

my head,

d sav

pure instinct,

am pierced

fi

d under the ed

ng rapidly on t

face wen

leaving me in the d

!" he

beam with a strength

ping for air, clu

ce arrived

o the private wi

ng room, covered i

out of the op

"We need O-negative blood. The blood bank is

rned to

my blo

verything

to her,

't a qu

sbelief washing ove

, my voice trembling. "The s

shaking with a terrifying intensity. "If she dies, t

e about your

d up t

rabbed

ip was

do this,"

You caused the accide

red a

an who had saved

o would grind bones

wn," he order

amed as they

d me into t

y arm down

e pierced

in the doorw

n't lo

need," he told

the bag fi

ook on

n t

dizzy, the room t

red, my strength

Dante said, his vo

room

s danced i

me dry to keep

last time before t

chokes her,

passe