ra

every hair on my body stood on end, yet I forced m

hest away, I arched my n

second at my sudden surrender, a trace of conf

ted my head and pressed my mouth

oat. He immediately took control, prying m

ithout guard, I snapped my ja

r mouths, the thick metall

heavy frame stiffened, the sharp pain fi

lips as his dilated pupils shrank, restoring

inct when provoked. His gaze darkened, and his hand

und my windpipe, he flexed his arm and li

rabbing his thick wrist with both hands, I kicked

slurred from his bitten tongue b

sent

n words out of m

rugged... look

tight jaw twitched, and his gaze finally swe

candles, and the heavy pheromone incense hanging

ad burned him, and he dropped me onto the mattress, stumbling back a step. His gaze swept over my torn gown and the red marks on my

gainst his will. He dragged a shaking hand through his hair and half turned his

me was spoken in whispers-the invalid heir who had supposedly defiled me and then, years later, died carrying me out of the

mer

vision, yet it ripped me out of the sic

h rage at being set up, driving my hand t

alize where I was. This was the Marking Chambe

grip. Seeing her pale silver curls and stubborn amber-gold

nce our five years together at the Western Border-the girl I had loved f

ack onto the mattress. Watching her curl up and cough v

y torn shirt collar closed, hiding the shame

rly in the quiet hall

ice drifted throu

e the men arranged by P

il my knuckles cracked,

on me, dragging Audra into their mud. And I had nearly given them exactly what

on the bruises rising on her wrist, and each time they did, my jaw tightened as though I were biting down on something I could no

u still

r amber eyes showing no fear, only a

eputation ruined, Your Hig