RE'S

y place Courtland might be. I needed time to calm

sh the tablecloths from the feast. The cold well w

ket of hot water into my wooden tub.

e," I said with

es and helped me scrub a greasy stain. "You've been

"No, I just... ne

Still sad about

, which was an

l whisper. "Forget about him. I have big news for you. I guarantee yo

ession made me la

last night's feast

son, Hardin Beaumont." I'd only ever

ly back! I heard the senior handmaidens talking this morning. He arrived at the for

"What's so shock

re, you really live under a rock. This Hardin

the Dragon Lord and his wife's biological son, his bloodline is incredibly weak.

o be born without a dragon was

up wild and rebellious. He left the fortress in his teens and messed around outs

uzzy memory from my

is toy dragon stolen by another noble child. He pushed the other boy to the

hat boy w

true, having such an unpredictable and volatile

ith his perfect older brother, Courtland. He's definitely not back wi

I instinctively wo

. The fortress is in turmoil right now. For little people like us, it's best to kee

. Maeve

was a dangerous Hardin, too. The Beaumont Fortress no longer

s if trying to wash away the a

seeped back into my skin, bu

otion called fear, had a

ent second son, s

want? What w

e high towers of the upper quarter, where the Dragon-

m was

nificant leaf that could be swe