EON

ing shallow, a flawless imitation of a man in the final stag

silent agony I suppressed through sheer force of will. It was a gift from my d

hmic footsteps belonged to Kael, my most trusted Dra

nor Dragon Core resonance barrier, a simple ward woven from his own energy to prevent ea

ord," Kael whispere

relief from the cursed red marks that disfigured the r

ours of feigned stillness. "Report," I said, my voice

is world of shifting allegiances. "King Theron has decreed

tyrant thinks a bride will either wake me or kill me. A convenient test." The prophecy

ntinued. "But our spies in the capital confirm it's a bait-a

scarded branch of a fallen house adopted by the Ashf

in its supposed downfall." My fortress, my people, being treate

Kael offered, his hand resting on the hilt of his s

simplest solution. It would maintain my

he word, though quiet, echo

e break in my cold logic, but h

up. "Let the wedding proceed. The Kin

d, the cold of the stone floor a welcom

lse," I stated, my voice turning to ice, "I wi

a victim, My Lord?"

skin, the desperate, fiery touch of the girl in the

lared up, punishing me for the momentary lapse in concentra

nto the pillows, instantly resumin

. "Ensure the Keep looks as grim and hopeless as possible. No wel

eactivated the barrier and slipp

for the bride who was coming to bury me, blissfully unaware