phin

racked with coughs that tore at my bruised throat. The

as no time

icians found no trace of silver, my bluff would

re that happened: a form

h the tools of my trade. I tipped a fine powder onto my tongue and washed it down with a gulp of water from th

at the door m

g Omega girl with wide, worried e

she whispered. "I heard the

last life, Fern had died trying to protect me, beaten to

eed you to do something for me, quickly and quietly. Go to the head steward

an loyal to my mother's family, House Sterli

fusion, but she nodded with

o leave, I stop

u deliver the message, do not come back here. Go to the city's main gate and wait for me. If I

tried to push the coin back. "

her fingers around the coin. "Your life is more va

her face, but she gave a sharp, dete

ken threats. Valerius was a cornered beast, an

everal harmless but official-sounding herbs onto a s

hed, the door s

d him were the manor's steward and two hulking guard

" he said, his voice dangerously low. "Y

of it show on my face. I leaned back in m

ng on my lips. "Perhaps it's something far more subtle. A c

parchment into the fireplace. The flames li

f the antidote's formula,

hing-their strength, their status, their very soul. The thought of it bein

his jaw working silently. "What... d

hard as flint. "I want the Rejection. Now. And I w

her accounting. Once the ritual is complete and my carriag

h his enraged pheromones, and his guards shifted nervously. I had pu

something in his ear. I saw Valerius's eyes flicker

ense as he fought a war with his own

hem again, they

e hissed.

steward. "Fetch the Elder. Prepare f

internal sigh of relief. I

begin the moment I retu

rk, pre-dawn sky. Mother, just wai