Merce

long, shifting shadows beneath the b

hamber. Nora stood behind me, gently dra

ra murmured, her tone dripping with gentle, sisterly sympathy. "L

oft, delicate face held the exact mask of de

onsequence," I

vet pouch embroidered with the royal

id, meeting her eyes in the mirror. "It contains evidence that could strip House Brad

of a second before she lowered he

d, picking up the pouch with reverent

leave,"

oor clicked shut, the

m the stone ledge, sinkin

her," I

the eastern postern gat

ak, stood in the shadow of the brick wa

usehold guard stepped out from the trees. Nora i

ly," she hissed. "It is the princes

of steel split

is windpipe. Before Nora could scream, Kael's iron-clad hand cl

oth were dragged into

g the granite square in

agon-scale cloak wrapped tight over my nightgown, lo

w herself forward. "It is a misunderstanding! This

ured t

parchment from the velvet pouch

r a single, heavy black cross painted acros

The color drained from her skin

e were seven, Nora," I said

y!" she cried, slamming her forehead against the stones until blood tr

thirty gold coins to leave my garden gates u

She could not comprehend how I kn

ae

High

house. Execution by the g

N

black iron staff and brought it down across

f the night. Nora crumpled onto the flagstones,

guard kneeling in his ow

them both outside the front gates of the Bradley estate before dawn. Let

, dragging the prisoner and No

ing only the smell of torch

ache. Between the poison, the trials, and the ex

covered colonnade-the distinct, rich scent of