Viorica

neck, and I could feel the heat

sing with every beat of our hearts. Whatever wa

d ma

made my st

once believed in love beneath years of hard work, careful planning, and political survival. Now

Lucian w

on

his hand in place without al

olf, Lucian. Lo

them faded, and he withdrew his hand. His jaw rema

Cyprian stared at

ldn't pair the Sovereign bloodline with

u Vale stepped out

lie, Prince. Neither does

his feet, his face

d to the Silver Spire. Her bloo

w his

, Radu pressed his broadswo

warned. "Unless you'd prefer to l

ut his eyes rema

Lucian will use your power to control my kingd

ost l

ise he'd made. I'd defended him, truste

wn away something precious and couldn

carried across the hall. "I belong to no one. N

from him and

g. There was no anger in his expression

ned to

knights to the West Wing. Four guards at every doo

!" Cyprian shouted as

ked at me d

s about your father! Sorina know

nt s

ri

rina-Anca Miron had been my mentor at the Moon Temple, the woman wh

d her more than

ut his final words remained with m

eave us," Lu

du gave me a brief, reassuring n

we wer

his sides. I could tell he was fighting the same insti

ing to run?

from anything

look a

sed m

ly, stopping befor

d Cyprian. You said y

eant

ate just because some ancient magic chose

Lucian simpl

laughe

life surrounded by people who agree with everything I say. I don't need anoth

ssion gre

one can hurt you. But I'm not going to lock

is hand, giving me

his fingers b

pendence, your authority, and your freedom

ed me more than I

r accept the b

e didn'

d your ally. You don't owe me love simply becau

us moment, my d

d obedience. Instead, he

t to do with that

er, a cold draft sw

erhead. Every candle flame tur

swallowed

symbol on the floor. Black smoke rose from the

t from the for

ood Ec

in front of me, drawing the

we he

Tap

e upper gallery, striking th

-white robes. Her silver hair was braided neatly aro

w tha

ess Sorina-

hen the world abandoned me now looked

old, her expres

ined buried in darkne

ach tig

es not permit anyone

the answers to my father's death, I realized