a's

aying eyebrows were knitted in a deep frown as his gaze fell

sighed, shaking his head

n shoulders and draped it over me, covering my torn dress. He gave my sho

chor in the swirling chaos of my mind. I knew Dr. Alaric was one of the few people in this fortres

certain Lady Corinna would be looking for me. I slipped dow

door open again. Dr. Alaric emerged, followed by Kaelen, who

t. I held my breath, pressing

continued down the hall t

out, when I heard the sound of hushed wh

sy, and Poppy, the maids who feast

into the darkness. The

nna came storming out of the High Sovereign's chambers, and th

favor before her contract was up," Rose sne

meone important," Poppy added. "It's all because of her cousin, Lad

ss from Rose. "Hush! Do you want to los

overeign? I had always assumed Kaelen's hatred for

ign's Threaded-his soulmate, the one the blood chooses and does not choose twice. But she married the exiled Prince Lucian

er my ribs and stayed there. I

heard Elara wasn't always mute. They say she bumped into Lady Corinna by acc

threatened to escape. If the maids were telling t

ue cut out?" Rose warned sharply. Their footstep

e wall until I was huddled on the floor. The sheer volum

ering I had borne in silence... it was all built on a

a substitute for a cousin who had spurned him. I was

rom the depths of my soul. I couldn't just leave. I cou

r myself. And for my family, wh

th the back of my hand. My eyes were no longer filled with f

cloak, hiding the ev

ng. My steps were steady as I walked toward the se

ne of Kaelen's personal guards. His face was a blank mask. "The High