ay

o bloom after wint

i

ag

freshly f

at larger flowers lacked. They bloomed when frost still covered the

that snowdrops c

gs always ar

/

d onto the stage, the audie

ent. The moment she lifted her hand, crims

nds of

ro

came

peon

e of red i

throughout

Maya when a Serena had just walked into a r

ckstage became distracted as well

except

eleste's ivory dress rustled softly as she s

echoed through the corridor. Se

thou

tho

tho

aya's mind. She had never possesse

come back here. Valir will scheme to trick whoever her b

toward the st

lread

greatest treasures. The auc

lue. A demonstra

aid quietly. Her voice had

people forgot Maya could speak.

arried little joy

sn't su

s unlike anyone else. She was b

ld never

leste today. For a moment, she watched the auct

what Vali

emaine

. "He'll sell

d her. Perhaps once they would

A servant

was that fro

oughts, Celeste frowned.

en spoke honestly. "Being a sl

hung bet

looked away. Because

omple

Not after being praised and displayed like a rare flower.

Then Celeste spoke agai

e shifted

ow

man's voice softened. "If yo

ze. Only

erhaps because she was one of the few peop

h to

to su

d there was somethi

es..." Celeste continued carefu

etly. The sound

act

e fell

hat was t

uldn't s

ld kee

re

cheme to sell Serena only to get her back a

sold as a slave..." Her fingers tighte

er than intended. More

n on Celeste'

dn

i

rsta

till have something they

. Because she understood exactly what Maya meant. Magic. Choice. Fr

ead. "You don't know wh

fro

. The words came quickly. Almost harshly. As thou

ps sh

uly thought slaver

he feared

that. But she dis

ay, only one thought

s also a slowl

cut from

beau

l al

ng all

changed an

er saw i

her onto the stage and told her to

monstration stretched painfu

te fl

ted f

efe

Valir had instruc

s folded neatly be

register why Valir kept mentioning the name Grey Stormborn

act appeared did sh

ract marriage. T

n struck harde

ed. Not because she

e she

ognized the express

sg

ge

liat

he were an insult. A punishm

rhaps

before. Servants wore it. Ove

after learning she was defective. Yet

knew and follow him. Perhaps because he looked genuine

wered h

ract was

cision

had a sa

st time in year

now she felt like she was leaving one predato

il

ed her mothe

your power. N

ly repeated

ai

ag

ag

/

happened almos

court. And Grey also didn't waste anytime to get out

a's hands. Everything she owned fit inside i

ing

life reduced t

the servant with a puz

rvant

s fro

lance over. He loo

ame him. The fee

ya stared at them. Then stared some more. A problem

roved of his Ronas learning skills and abili

. Very nervous. Especially becau

lpha. Marcus, the Beta. An

e large. Stro

existed mostly in stories. Stories involving claws. Teeth

otice her hesitati

ly shook

r werewo

ed. His patience was clearly gone.

tively took

parently th

ound her wrist. Pain shot through her arm making Maya

f, expecting impact. A slap. Or a shove. Something. Ye

d. Instead the worl

p

gh

ed her eyes, she found he

ly lifted her

punishment. Ju

eks. She was embarrass

movements. His expression remained cold. Annoyed. Focused. As though she wer

brief look with Red

hey de

Aurellia

Valir

er old li

far to the north. Farther

hickened. Roads narrowed. The air cooled

it. The chill bit at her skin.

thing like the suffocating warmth of

ime in years, s

d, Maya secretl

k hair. Tall. Broad

sitting atop a horse, he seemed larger than

lf thinking some

uld win. The thought startled her. Because

conversation repe

you h

no

ol

e of h

ir

e. The

eemed determined to

't know how to respond. Conversation felt di

deteriorating. Every unanswered ques

e forward. Far ahead. Leaving

on't think he likes

se, Red snorted.

ound she had heard

/

rney co

. Then

round them. Snow appeared o

sting. Every muscle hurt. Her

was awful. Ab

people e

ds felt heavy. The wo

g. Red replied. The wind w

bli

n

ic

ement became st

. Ge

osed. Just

Only a

vity dis

her. She vaguely felt h

ll

was unf

out to hit

pain- Strong

Warm.

o heavy. Exhaustion dragged her under too qui

the rhythmic beat of another

dar

e, the world

as mo

rmer. It felt

d, she

rk cloak fill

lization

as sitting in front of Grey. On his ho

rby leading her

escaped before s

ed down. Annoyance fl

jaw tightened as though tryi

me, huh? Maya th

remembered she rarely spoke, tha

ued. "You f

no

ly broke

her

twenty ye

odded

parently waitin

, his expression

lieva

bli

g, despite the awkwardn

s close

lled faintly of pine. The rhythmi

ep

she was uncons

em, Marcu

hear it as sle

already

the endless northern fores

blooming throu