ste

f the Great Hall. Elder Arthur stared at me wit

er hands together in glee, h

free will! As the legitimate eldest daughter, mar

nded from behind the carved wooden screen at the back of the hall. Supported by two

harp, aged eyes on me an

Do you have any idea what stepping

ared for my late mother's bloodline. Letting my shoulders

o Master Darrin. If I refuse the Duke's steward as well, ho

yes shut, her dry lips trembling as the reality hit her

a with cold indifference, rais

e its choice, let us sign the b

forward and unrolled the dark red parchment scroll across the

hat had sealed her doom in our last life. The corners

he oak table and picked up the silver blade.

Every werewolf is born with a fatal weakness to silver, which burns our flesh and suppresses o

pen. A bead of bright red blood welled up and dropped onto the rune circle at the bottom

er without flinching, a rare trace of

courage is worthy of

turned to Elder Arthur and

will arrive at dawn. See to it that you pr

ched out of the hall with his knights, their

Carlie let out a long breath, jumped out of

e whispered in a venomous voic

le life rotting in the Duke's cold tower

er face twisted by greed and triumph, a

y you and Master Darrin stay

rin's hand, and marched out of the hall with her chin held high, f

ll. The old woman slumped back against a stone pillar, looki

y took her ice-cold, wr

randmother. This is my own cho

on my wrist, her cloudy eyes gli

ten times the spine of

herself upright with her cane, her

rden for the pack, I will not le

a narrow, winding staircase that led deep beneath the castle foundati

ass key on a cord, and pushed it into the lock with trembling ha

out to meet us. Even with the memories of two life

pen chests overflowing with gold coins, glowing mana

he vault, where ten massive black-wood chests sat, each carved with the

ehind by your grandmother, combined with y

head to look me

s belongs to you. I will not let that greedy conc

ld buy half the royal capital, I let a gen