ma

, I turned to leave without g

g with a mixture of humiliation and rage. "You are min

hall. "You find it acceptable to offer your flower to any woman willing to scrape her knees on the floor for you, yet I a

ion, a silent, intimidating escort. Elliott's guards, including Silas, looked to their mas

nobles, my head held high. Bryana

ing on the cold stone, her face a mask of utter h

great hall, I paused.

mal. "But I cannot accept such a gift without offering

House Leon-a simple, elegant token of thanks. It was a polite gesture, one t

smile. "Thank you, my lady. My master will be overjoyed. He wished me to inform you that he will return to

ryana wrapped a thick wool blanket aro

"Archon Damien... what does this mean? They say h

shions, closing my eyes. "It means we ac

n the world of the Vorrath,

d symbol of my family's power, now looked weary and faded in the moo

Orchid in a crystal vase on my desk. Its exotic beau

sound of frantic hoofbeats an

pale with panic. "My lady! It's Archon Elli

settled over me.

in," I sa

nt crash. Elliott stormed in, his face contorted int

ipe of his arm. "You dare humiliate me in front of my own court! I gav

on unreadable. "You tried to

anded on the Black Moon Orchid. T

retched to smash the vase. I sho

oice dangerously quiet. "Destroy it, and you risk

overing in the air.

. He was trying to regain control, but the words that

I am done indulging your stubbornness. Next month, our betrothal stands. But I will be ta

dented insult. It meant the first wif

ted her to the harshest interrogations. I tried to break her to find the rebel camps. But she never yielded. She took every ounce of pain and spat it back in my

o ambushed my brother? The woman whose blade crippled Jonas, ensu

bade you from taking revenge because I saw her true value. And what do you do? You run to Damie

ly lost. "What are

thern trap! You were the one who ensured he was surrounded by the Ice Walkers, resulting in his face being torn apart and his exile! You ruined his life to secure my po

but I refused to let him see it

d, "Is that y