rip bruising on her arms. She did not resist. She did not struggle. She simply

as the Duke had commanded. But the manor was not a place of comfort. It wa

narrow tower. The door slammed behind her,

ngs. A narrow bed with a thin mattress. A wooden chair. A small table

he cold glass. The city sprawled below her, a maze of roo

nce. But she knew that the Duke was still watching

e had survived the first encounter. She had planted a seed of curiosity in his

of her awareness. She had always tried to suppress it in her past life. S

might be h

ass was cold beneath her fingers, but she felt something stir insid

e glass beg

m shadows across the room. She watched in wonder as the

power. And she was n

ing as quickly as it had appeared. She stared at her palm, h

hat was this power that she

gift, passed down through the Sun King's bloodline. But it had been dorman

it was

g heart. She needed to be careful. She needed to control it. If

art lurching into her throat. She crossed to the do

d out. "It is me. I hav

he servant girl

dia stood in the corridor, a tray of food in her hand

right? The guards told me what happen

irl enter. "I am fine, Lydia. Trul

illed with worry. "The Duke is a dangerous man, my lady. Everyone

weary smile. "I know. But

s afraid of him. Even the courtiers who pretend to

veryone thinks he is. He is a broken man, drowning in

with disbelief. "You pity him? Af

n broken too. I know what it feels like to be lost in the darkness. An

ning with fresh clothes and warm water. Danika sat on

een given a chance to breathe. But she knew that the Duke was

er. The threat. The per

about her past life. Someone who had pushe

here. In this wo

quiet the storm in her mind. She had to find out wh

crutiny. She had to convince him that she

had to d

the darkening sky. The city was coming alive below he

vived so much. She would not let

e tensed, her heart racing. She cro

massive frame filling the doorway.

ce flat and emotionless. "I

oom, his presence overwhelming. He was so tall, so broad, so power

ing into hers. "I have questions,"

flinching. "I will answer

, examining it with cold disinterest. "You know things

She could make up a story. But she knew that he wo

uth," she said softly. "Y

e said, his

am not the Sun King's daughter. Not really. I am a woman who was born in

s eyes unreadable. "

world. I was pushed off a bridge and into a river. And

. "You expect me

to think I am mad. But I am no

ing hers. And then he said, "The light. The glow

lowly. "Yes.

t is

t. But I never understood it. I tried to suppress i

lazing with intensity. "Show me," he

And then she raised her hand and

h her fingers, through the fabric of his tunic, into his skin.

g?" he demanded,

id, her voice trembling

the light. It surged up, wrapping around her fingers, pulling her closer.

he shadow

fore her, his eyes wide with disbelief. For the first t

is chest, feeling the quiet stillness of the shadow. It was gone. The wr

eyes wide with shock.

illed with confusion. "I do not kno

. "You are not just the Sun King's daughte

hing. "I am a woman who is try

t a threat. She was not a weapon. She was a woman who had been

the shadow. She ha

omething other than rage. Something other than

e said softly. "I will n

ous in the dim light. "Why? Why would you

y. "You are not my enem

g, like the rustle of leaves in a soft wind. It was not the

mething he had thoug

ac

do anything

rm against her cold skin. "You will stay here,"

led with something he could not read

against her ear. "Everything," he wh

against him. She was not afraid. She was something else

nt," he murmured

t to know the truth," she said. "I want to know who

"Then we will fi

rk and hungry beat. But this time, i

found h

ld never l