Sanch

the carriage seeping into my bones. Leaning back against the velvet cushion, I closed

unwell. Would yo

nervously in her lap. This was our first meeting in this lifetim

been her. During the final days of my captivity, she had snuck me scraps of food and water

ently. I would not let her

mured, taking the

he city faded behind us. I lifted the carriage curtain, watching the scene

o earn my father's approval. I studied military strategy relentlessly

the border skirmishes against the vampires. For my second brother Conrad, I covered up his

ce from my blood kin. All I received in retur

olen the poems I had written and presented them as her own at the High Court's Verse Re

isoning her out of jealousy for her talent. M

lskis had arranged the match to climb into the Regent's favour. F

e King, unleashed full-scale war, the Kowal

the deadly Frost Border to raise troop morale. The truth was they wanted me t

ed in my own blood. I had summoned my last strength to beat ba

ut of the smoke, surrounded by his personal

the greatest benefit to our hou

n, raw and broken: "Why? I

a mongrel carrying that woman's blood. Katharina is Fathe

pierced my heart. The agony felt as though my

me out of the nightmare. I gasped for

errible dream?" Clara's

ragged breathing. "I was only

the distance, warm and peaceful beneath the sunlight, a stark

my father and brothers blocked every attempt. They filled my head with lies, telling

given up on me. She had married into House Beaumont and plotted patiently, gathering p

ended when news of m

ating strong and alive in my chest. T

Katharina. Lucien. Every debt y

is time, I wil

. Clara's voice sounded besid

Nothing remained but icy calm and unshakable resolve. I smoothed t