ley

funds appeared in my secret account, I changed

r unnoticed, a shadow lea

w racing toward the cliffs where Kamilah had died. They

had argued with someone and lost

d tied my horse, the wind whi

s of survival in the wild and my training as Pha

ny scrap of fabric snagged on a root. It wasn't ord

t in an evidence bag. The crest... a snake entwined with a

powerful, suffocating p

shadow of a great dragon falling over the land. As a Dr

spun around, my dagg

f. He wore black riding gear, his form straight and imposing. A wide hood sha

unique Dragon's might, a mix of death and power that b

cidence? Or was he here

he dagger tightened as I fe

in my hand. From beneath the hood,

me. Each step was a hammer blow against my heart, the p

e instinct to flee. Show weakne

nto my attack range, I

or his wrist and the evidenc

ist; a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. But he was impo

e an iron vise, the force overwhel

and my dagger clattered t

kicks, knee strikes, elbows-but my attack

o hurt me, only to subdue

us slammed me against a

ack, his body heat searing through m

overwhelming aggression. I felt his hand reaching for the pouch. I

needed. I slipped free like an eel and kicked at his knee. We separated and fa

d as if carved from ice. But his skin was unnaturally pale, and his deep

rt cle

rom the ground, and scrambled back to my horse. I leaped

w. He just stood there, his cold