nna

nger, replaced instead by a dark, fathomless curiosity. His fi

ree months," he said, his deep voice carrying a rou

ot and rolled away down the corridor, leav

n stone floor, her white dress soiled with dirt. "Are you w

uddy skirts with trembling hands, and fled d

in Shadow Fortress w

e, and Kellen remained locked in his private war room. But

llery maid nervously pressed a folded scrap o

andwriting: The cliff behind the fortress. I know the truth a

e parchment into a tight ball and to

tic, clumsy

ver my shoulders and stepped out int

ig her own grave, I was more th

. Swirling flurries of snow lashed against the jagged cliffs, and belo

er white silk dress whipping wildly in the f

unch over the frost

front of Kellen was completely gone. In

id, her fingers clutching the sil

with a fly?" I stopped three paces awa

e. "You think forcing me to bow makes you the true Lu

she was clever; she died from an 'unfortunate riding accident.' The second thought she had r

ou finally admit it. You systematicall

l, hysterical laugh. "So what if you know? You have no proof! Brother Kellen will alw

der his mates?" I stepped forward, my voice cutting th

her, screaming over the wind, "Pack your bags and leave this fortress

ll of cold mockery. "Because of a few e

r confidence. "You hate me because deep down, you know the truth. You will ne

ed step backward. The heel of her delicate slipper slipped on the

one relentless. "A pathetic leach

g smile spread across her pale lips as she looked p

of approaching footsteps-heavy iron boots, accompanied

had a

, her twisted smile widening

" she whispered, "you

ide, pushed off the icy ledge with both feet,