Merce

the courtyard, casting long shadows across th

heat, and I had burned the remaining poison from my blood with dragonfire. Kael, I was told, had remained

lden circlet resting firm against my brow. Clara and two other handmai

n-banded post by two black-armored guards. His armor had been stripped,

Jaheem roared. "When Alys comes to her senses

nst the perimeter line. A red cord woven from foreign fibers was tied around her

he heavy iron shields. "You primitive brutes! Don't you know anything a

terrace, watching her thr

hand rested flat on the pommel of his broadsword, his gaze l

him," I

of his northern pure-blood pressure across the courtyard. T

ing shut as the weight crush

n-god aura unfurl. The grooms, the footmen, and the lower-tier knights around the courtyard

widening in panic before he forced a d

ve made your point. You threw your tantrum last night.

stairs. "Princess! Love is equal! You cannot use feudal tyranny to force

spare he

f Jaheem, pulling the heavy drag

ght the revised contract? Good. Put Kayden's name under the offic

d into

-gold flame ignite

in the courtyard, I touched the flame dire

" Jaheem screamed, thrashi

ess than three seconds, the golden smoke drifting

h, my voice carrying across the entire courtyard like rolling thunder. "I, Alys Mercer, dec

silence fell o

u... you cannot do this! The Elder Council will s

longer a royal consort. You are a disgraced vassal trespas

him, my heavy trai

on Gu

d their spears against their shie

inst royal blood," I commanded. "By the law of the Dragon C

g Jaheem onto the wooden punishment benc

Jaheem shrieked, his composure shattering in

look back.

down with a sickening th

ural howl that tore t

ir, I could feel the fierce, triumphant surge o

unned squire and throwing herself

eading her arms over his body. "If y

r staves in mid-air, l

the commoner girl shielding the m