rianna, the sounds of fury from the

exhilarating, terrifying ru

ed, her eyes wide. The maid had a cup

torm inside her. Her mind was already racing. She had to get o

ng the hard, reassuring outline of

lew open, slamming

ntorted with rage that went beyond anger. I

who scurried past him with a

nd turned the lock

ed him, her e

our game?"

e replied. "I am rel

he wrist. His grip was surprisingly strong. He pulled her

ll of this to make me jealous? To make me gi

e truly believed that-that this entire rebellion, this fight for her dignity

dizzying. The last lingering ember of affection she might hav

s grasp, her touch recoiling

en," she said, the formal titl

ce dar

u would still be a merchant's daughter, lost and f

ed with my dowry. The robes on your back were paid for with my go

His rage curdled into some

or the last time, Brianna. Stop these games. I am going to marry Isabelle. She is pure

spirit, to remind her of the class d

ords had

ry scrap of authority he had just wielded against her, every stitch of nobility he wore, every book on his shelves and meal in his belly-all o

ciless clarity. A small man, puffed up with stole

lt nothing

to infuriate him more tha

thed. "I will make you underst

r that. Instead, he straightened his robes, pulling t

" he said, the title dripping with sarcasm, and stro

r click

ge of her bed. There was no goi

ay. And she would get