Holland

om of the stairs, I strode up the wooden s

ron crowbar. When I pushed the door wide, I saw the mahogany chest where I had locked my dowry lyi

the heirloom gold-and-silver pendant she had given me. Hanging thick in the air was that unm

my heel, marched straight down the hallway, and dr

inner wall. Danita was sitting at her vanity table turning my heirloom silver-and-g

e the necklace up her sleeve,

ur mind? You kick

like an iron vise around her wrist, and wrench

I asked, my voice colder than the northern fortress ice as my f

ta's cheeks as she twisted and

that piece of junk in the hallway!

ards as Dolores came charging into the room, followed

ds off my daughter!" Dolores screeched, lunging

throat, slamming her back against the plaster wall so hard the whole room shook. Dolores choked

's leather coin pouch to Mom an hour ago!"

aitor!" Danita shrieked at her s

mottled purple as she wh

me... I'll make Devonta.

letting Dolores slide down the wall like a sac

old," I said, looking down at them, "

her coughing mother an

rippled wolfless freak-even if you cry to the

walked calmly down the stairs to the main hall just as two tall regiment guards marched in carrying a heavy, velvet-lined steel case, loudly d

practically popping out of their skulls in rabid greed. I took the heavy case from the guards, clicked the

last few steps, plastering a sickenin

rhaps I should keep those val

ying the crystal case, I walked back up to my room and shut the damaged door, pressing my ear lightly against the iron heating vent in the