o.

ught Ariana before she could hit the marble floor. He

er wedding gown, blooming like cr

laric roared, and his command shattered the

n every direction. Guards closed the gates. No

side her daughter, her trembling

voice cracked down the middle. "My l

was no

ov

bs, tinctures, and surgical instruments swinging at their sides. The o

her f

the polished floor, one hand sti

o fingers to her throat.

e." His hands moved to check her eyes, her lips, the sprea

ing Cedric stepped

re's no time to identify it properly." The physician was a

voice wasn't. "Whatever poison entered her body, it's spre

her, his gloves soaked through w

'd begin as strangers who will trust each other no matter what Y

ther win duels, win arguments, win over entire crowds without trying - he had never once seen Lucien look like this. Helpless. Small. He

in but determined , Another A murmured to Astra under his breath while counting the rise

tretched

hysician slowly l

ent unbear

s voice shoo

s eyes. "My king. I am sorry. T

m as though she had forgo

N

bowed his head

k her head, ag

was okay , She was-" Her voice broke entirely

as though he could keep her from shattering by sheer force. For the first time in decades, the rul

he knelt. He simply stayed the

n to the shattered silver goblet still lying forgotten on the mar

f dark liquid c

es nar

raphy of the last ten minutes - the attendant's trembling hands, the goblet's timing, the way the poiso

clean handkerchief from his sleeve, wrapped it ar

ed this. Someone i

hing to any

omed a royal wedding now tolled slowly across the capital - one, then another, then another

in the streets. Musicians let thei

rough the city *Something

ched every corner of the kingdo

ge of a darkening forest as a raven descended and landed on an outstret

ge once, expression unre

r murmured. "I

t and scattered to the wind in small d

the nex

moments, both rider and message had vanished into

kne

No pain.

opened

endless expanse of shimmering silver mist, stretc

efoot upon the surface of perfectly still water that held the reflection of countle

arried strangely, soften

achingly familiar, like a lullaby she was certain she'd

r drifted down out of

around her trembled, and a warm light bloome

ht, she felt someon

iana