a's

rom Lady Corinna a poisoned dart aimed at me. I had

et hit the cold stone floor, my legs weak

these last few days, a

ed the door open, and Lady Corinna stumb

nstantly. They were filled with a hatred

ely on me. She advanced, the silk of her gown

reat was short. My back hit the unyield

etached, cruel amusement was on his face. He had no intention of stopp

ac

xploded across my cheek, and my head was thrown to the sid

ed, her chest heaving with rage. "How dar

A slave who cannot answer a charge is simply a slave who has not denied it.

to infuriate her further. She rai

as caught in a powerfu

s calm, but it held the unshakeable weight of a

house may strike a human slave in any corridor of this Keep, and no one asks he

aid, get out." The air thickened with his Dominion, a

h a promise of future pain. But she didn't dare defy a direct ord

but the air was heavier now,

, poured himself a glass of dark liquor, and leaned against the window frame. The moonlight carved his profi

and not for my sake. A man does not defend a chair; he only dislikes seeing it broken by so

uld I stay? Should I run? My

y said, his voice dr

scrambled for the door, my

stopped me again. "Remember, Elara. As long a

rigid. I didn

ice a final, crushing judgment,

There is no paper in Vorrath Keep. There i

d. I ripped the door open and fled

s. The pain on my face was a hot thr

hands steadied me. A faint, clean scent of herbs and antisep