ndred Ye

on Moo

to the chamber where Kara Voss, daughter of Beta Lydia, received her guests. The women had gathe

e doors, the tray steady in her hands. Withi

favor th

ther pleas

ions were known for their sharp tongues and s

she pressed open the doors and steppe

ay of honeyed figs, almonds laced with spice,

ased. All eyes

ng like rivers of gold and rose. Their gazes followed Lena with veiled

inger idly circling the rim of her cup. "T

on the ground, her grip t

le. "One might take her for a noblewo

look of sorrow. "A face like that should b

e, her movements deliberate and precise, each ge

ing, like invisible hands creeping acro

he matter," Valeria murmured,

ld we manage that? Scar her pretty face? A pi

le and turned, her heart quickening. One

rs creaked op

ted, like a

s fell in

ss had

r. The crisp strike of Kara's heels against the polished sto

m, before settling upon L

going o

ut Lena knew well the edge beneath that s

d glances, their smiles lac

hing of import, Kara. Merely your servant,

mach coile

so?" Her eyes lingered on Lena, shar

yed her. The words tangled with fear, chok

wer

cked you, Kara. Said you were nothing. That as long as she remained

truck lik

led on her lips, but she bit it back. She knew better. No a

er gaze suffocating, before ex

urself more bea

I ne

nd. The chamber stilled

lain with

stone bit through her gown.

urned ice-cold. "If I must delay this meeting, I will.

r moments halted when he announced his wedding. But she had never surrendered her vi

The truth would be her ruin.

ur choice." She turned slightly, a ge

orld

s seized L

her chest. She twisted, fou

inst the stone. Her head tilted, a slow, cruel smil

breath

mbled as terror took hold. Fabric tore. Cold a

ve gasp broke th

eck, where a crystal-shaped mark shimm

mark," some

gether in disbelief.

nt despite her fear.

hat is the Mark of Restraint. Only wo

voice laced with contempt. "No

barked. The ro

hat mark binds her. She cannot shift. She is no

ough the room as un

d. "She will confess her ties t

dea what they

hought when the fi

. Her hands curled into fists. Don't s

r. The third, crueler.

er mouth. She had bitten the inside

nched a strangled so

si

ai

gh the air like a whip. T

orward and drew a kni

"I know exactly what to d

voice broke, raw with terr

ough the room, soft,

fore. But now? To save your pretty little face?" She turned the knife in her gri

er fingers. "

N

d Lena against th

deliberate s

h

rs slam

oug

hrough the br

ards s

r smirk flickered into

fted her head just slightly, her vision sw

eta," someo

s the girls bo

hard, keeping h

rling," she cooed, laying a delicate hand upon Kara's shoulder. "Your wedding to

lips curved faintly. Her stance so

r gaze retu

rmth v

m lacing every word. "How dare a common,

yes, bracing for

l glint in her eyes. "By nightfall, she will be a memor

the fabric of her dress, gripping tight as the

xactly wha

do." She turned on her heel, striding away without a backward glance. Her fr

, si

w. Measured. D

gaze down, b

The Beta crouched, one finge

red with someth

Good thing your face is still untouched

e curved her lips

r to meet A