a P

r the attic after Vesper

rt beat like a slow, steady drum. I un

gertips still lingered--a heady taste of raw power

heavy oak door and sl

tarnished key Corbin had never found. Carrying it back to the vanity, I fitted it in

click, the l

. There was only a single, small red dragon crystal

, a sharp ache tightened my chest, d

ve me a safe haven in a harsh world, my mother married Corbin Beaumont.

ng. Corbin was a monster

k came off. He brought Vespera into the house, and

t--framing her for fabricated slights, lacing her daily meals with sl

ivid. I was seven years old, hiding w

s her cheekbone from Corbin's heavy hand. She was coughing violently into a

y hands clutching her icy fingers. "I'l

erce as she pressed the red crystal brooch into my small palm. She

er forget," she had pl

hose two daughters of hers hide venom behind their smiles. The only person you can rely

ped my eye and fell ont

been slowly poisoned and broken until her body fina

I had finally learned

is, and Livia had cornered me near the steep ravine beh

Vespera's eyes. She didn't even hesitate; she gave her daughters a sin

the sickening crack of my body striking the cliffside were

because when the jutting pine branch snagged my

deep it was indistin

ndless darkness

my grandmother--a legendary figure I had only heard of in m

lore and venom craft of our true, Primordia

lent brush with death had cracked op

gh my veins, knitting my broken bones, healing my ruptu

brooch and pinned it

sed to carry the name of the family that ha

travel bag and walked out of t

riage. Inside cowered a terrified young maid named Martha,

urched forward toward the volcan

rring, yet my mind r

rest village. The door swung open, and the steward held out a wooden flask. Every trac

nd dusty," he urged, his filthy gaze craw

ely flaring. To anyone else, the water ins

craft, however, the faint, musky scent of

nd aphrodisiac that would strip away a victim's abilit

sk. "Why don't you dr

ed, twisting in

ve you. Madam Vespera paid me good money to rape you right here on the road.

e into the wooden floorboard beside my hip to cow me, the

he time I'm done with you, you'll be thoroughly ruined! When the Lord of

y awakened draconic reflexes, he might

clamped down on his outstretched wrist and twisted vi

n an instant. I kicked him hard in the chest, sending h

epped out of the carriage after him, and planted my

was sobbing, curled into a t

ut here," I co

g from head to toe. I tossed the stew

ed, my eyes locked on

keep the secret. If you want to survive, you must prove whose side you a

t the cruel steward who had beaten,

ng-suppressed hatred ignited in her eyes. With a ragged, sobbing cry,

e and went co

rough her sobs, and looked up at me with trembl

n and rifled through his inner pockets. My fin

at immediately caught my attention was the heavy

Vespera had paid the steward to defile me on the road, yet the true

he elegant handwriting read. A ruined bride is a dead bride. Do it cleanly on the ro