ndria

ung open wi

rn disapproval. Behind him, peeking over his shoulder, was

The scene was not what they expected-not the whimpering, broken girl they had left chained to the wall. Instead, I stood in the center of the cellar, a heavy iron chain coiled in my hand like a serpent at re

face darkene

u permission to remove t

shrieked, "Father, look at her! She

man who had waved his hand and sent me to rot. The

a. The act burned in my throat like acid, but I held it. The wound inside me-the one the silver arrow had carv

of the cold command I wanted to use. "I... I would like to

, but the trembling vulnerability I layered over it seemed to confuse

sound escaped

e the rasp of a blade being sharpened. She flinched, shrinking behind Robert's imposing figure. I let my steps falter, a

ice wavering. "You claim I stole

liver of courage. "I found the box unde

A diamond-encrusted jewelry box that I have never seen in my life-found under the pillow of an Omega who owns not

He knew my circumstances. He was the one who enforced them. And now he was

he guards. "You two. Who o

ther's glare. Their silence was louder than any confession. I watched Robert's jaw

loudly, a clumsy, accidental noise that made them fl

vants of another family member was a scandal. It spoke of a house in

e verge of tears. "According to the laws of this house, what is the punishment for harming another's serva

pleading, waiting for him to rescue her. He did not move. He was watching her, and I saw the calc

les of his game better than he did, but who now performed the role of the wounded dove. Inside, my hatred coiled, cold and patient. Thirty thousand souls.

much uglier. The reputation

He made his decision. "This ends now. The guards overstepp

My first. The guards, still trembling, were dragged out by th

sn't

ith wide, disbelieving eyes. Her gaze met mine, and for the first

note that I did not have to fake entirely. "My maid is injured.

ve of his hand, and a servant scurried off to fetch a doctor. He had lost this round, and he knew it. The

e, her body trembling, her fingers clutching my torn sleeve as thou

ned in close, my lips brushing her ear

beginning. Your ha

familiar venom of her hatred. She opened her mouth to speak-to snap back, to reclaim some

ve her anot

guards, and his favored daughter followed me. I felt the weight of their stares-Robert's

eady. I was a sword drawn from its she

whimpering Christal. It was a tone of scrutiny, of displeasure. It was

doubt had

squint. The warmth of it kissed my bruised skin, and for a moment, just a moment, I let myself feel

fe. It h

t waste a sing