A'S

oyal crypt. The poison had burned through my

thless moan tore th

lower. You'l

s flew

floor of Alistair's tomb. The poison was gone. So was the cr

y, candlelight trembled across the

gown was bunched around her thighs, and Gideon's formal wedding coat lay discarded at their feet. His mouth m

oom at once. It wa

ieved was the beginning

voice rough with amusement. "I ma

augh. "Poor Elara. She truly believes

ause it was useful. Lord Thorne trusts her. The court trusts her. And with Elara ti

g anyway," Seraphina whispered. "Once he is

where she belongs," Gideo

s was hungry and shameless. Seraphina arched into him with a soft cry, and Gideon dragg

ck against the wardrobe, her amber earrings flashing in the candlelight.

murmured against her throat. "Did Al

he strength to hold a goblet, much less satisfy a woman. He thought a

n, and Seraphina's fingers tightened in his hair. Her body trembled against the wood as he moved with

ieving you mourn him. Let him think yo

a whispered, turning her face toward the canopy. "She has no id

d so violently I n

y smiled and pulled Seraphina closer, his voice low with possession. "Tonight, I am supp

aphina breathed. "Show m

he wardrobe as her skirts rode higher. The old wood groaned softly with each relentless

cried, forgett

nd. When he finally pulled back, his breathing wa

r. Maybe she will finally understand th

deeper than the

enderness, Seraphina's tears over Alistair's death-it had all been a performance. And y

breathe quietly. Rage surged through me, hot and wild, but I

alive. Seraphina had not yet completed the Moon Rite that would bind her to him beyond dispute

as my

e their power, and they would only find a faster way to silence me. First, I would reac

g they had built on my corp

at the two people who believed I was asleep. M

d not be their co

a would learn what it meant to