lyn

hing herbal soup in the small kitchen. Late that night, while the freezing wind rat

a sheepskin scroll listing the capital's top noble families. Kalia's promise of a five-hundred-gold-coin feast at the Hi

e drink your medicine before sleeping," I s

lowly. "Jazlyn, do you hold any complaints in your hea

elighted for our clan; why would I complain?" I replied, keepi

this way. Though Kalia has an outside surname, her ability to c

ulders stiffen as if gripped by sudden terror. "Your granddaught

heepskin scroll aside. "Only the

ter, while blizzards have ravaged the northern border? Countless packless Rogues and common

r's eyes sharpened. "So what? The royal court will open the granaries. The High

hy packs!" I looked up, meeting her gaze directly. "The day I entered the city, I heard that Prince Regent Junius Knight's black-iron guard

Dowager's frail body shuddered. Losing one

reat ducal houses haven't dared to book the main sanctuary hall this year. Our Burks pack is newly elevated from the southern border with shallow roots, yet we are acting ten times more extravagant th

Dowager's wrinkled face. Blue veins bulged on the back o

Grandmother and the Grand Princess. What kind of shady back-alley connection did Cousin use to jump ahead of the royal family? If the Queen Grandmother hears

y. Right now, her greatest political shield was the Moonstone

porcelain teacup cracked, spilling hot tea across the rug. "For a bit of cheap vanity, Camila

d heavily as her ch

y knees to gently pat her back. "Cousin is young and ignor

"First thing tomorrow morning, tell Camila to roll over to the High Templ

ken by Elton Butler's people were never ret

ing out of the chamber. Walking down the dark corridor toward my room, I heard lively music drifti