THE BLOOD-STAINED VOW

giving m

could dull the blade of betrayal

dn't answer

tal glass. The soft sound of ice against cut glass f

d at last, without lookin

picked for softness, not for war. "You're marrying me to Kaelen Dr

es

ll you ha

t of our name in the other. "If I don't do t

feel like mine. "So I'm the solu

re th

our da

culation still in his eyes. It was never going to

a Valtore. Born with duty in your vei

o tell me I

u d

I was more

u a

ngs now. Not when you're trading me l

ver to me. His steps were slow but sure. I could feel the a

Draviks control everything we don't. The ports. The banks. The b

ing me. You're prot

k. But his sil

use. "I've met him. There's something in him.

," I said, my voice low

were born into this. That means you di

me taught me how to fight, how to lie,

mething I never w

oved

e than the

ls rang

. They rang like a countdown to

andeliers, the empire smiled. Guests whispered over champagne. Musici

n since the ceremony. His eyes stayed on the room not on me,

s. Measured han

wasn't a

t was

m pleased," I s

ved his gaze to the far archway wher

for one of us t

when

'll f

sisting the urge to crush it in my

in what

or marrying me under d

expression didn't shift. But there was someth

have a choic

u d

st turned his head agai

and spiced wine. "My lady," he said, bowing

eplied. "You might cut yours

it. Then wandered off, forgett

ke a statue bes

you tell me I handled

aid, "if I thou

don

handled it

im, unsure if I was suppo

d decide, the

ne sh

e I saw it. Like the ro

first sho

ppled. Glass shattered. Guards flooded th

bbed my ar

drop. I

ther stood near the fa

a step

e the se

e open in red

ra

ped to my knees, and pulled him into my

d mine, wild

he said, v

ispered. "Don't

d again. No s

hand slid

e was

nce. I heard everything and nothing. I fel

d. Someone fell

eized my

to go," K

s your

. But if we stay, th

down at m

de me choose loya

believed this m

let Kaelen

t was colder than

g. My hands were slick with blood that did

from me. Still sil

red a

somet

dn't

somet

t make t

I said. "He's dead. And I married y

k I plann

vik. That's r

I wouldn't have missed. Yo

e threat tha

s the

osed to make

you this wasn't

at was i

ou

harder than

ha

is wasn't about a hit. It was about

steady the tremor inside it. "I'm not in

ant re

d. "I want

e on the s

hing. "There is no side.

elbows on his knees. "T