bed, her eyes on the door as if it wer

rned, syrupy and honeyed, conceal

d not

miles and tender promises, then betrayed her during the mating ritual. Poison. Slow poison. En

r, purple eyes, a fairy-tale smile. But

lright? You faint

e didn't speak the words. She needed a

id softly, unde

ecalled. The same haughty posture. The same desponden

she were a sacrament. "Yo

a step or two back from him, out o

rning. Cassian brought you home in person. He

ad thought of her in this one. That had never occurred before

she asked, looking

" Rhys said smoothly. "You'r

r voice called,

stiff

ss

, annoyed. "The general see

lowed. "Le

de in like a storm. Armor off, black tu

ond he saw Rhys s

Cassian answered

ed icily.

sion between them

over his shoulder.

. He'd died in her arms before. Seven lives, and in

remember me?"

caught off guard.

I saw you today-I knew. You're not a villag

s on the ground. "Th

was si

oved clos

I know is that I have three li

ssian concluded

ed up in incredulit

ped, turning to face him. "Yo

ilence

ther. "You recall everythi

rayal," sh

ut tender. "Then we won't squander thi

otected by the crown now, Gener

ck from Elara. "She do

"I want answers. And I'm not p

begin with the records. The Lunar Archi

y let the palace mages assist you.

uncertain. "What do

e of time disruptions before. Rare, but real. Ol

he hadn't c

't accidental. Someone-perhaps even the r

assian. "Take me

d his he

e palace is secure. Whatever you're

The depth of his eyes. Almost enough to belie

at once alrea

walked off

tunnels, volumes, and secrets. No guards, only warded doors a

k passages as if he'd done it a

sed gate with runes t

upon it, and the stone g

age to get to th

mother was one of the last of the Lu

tered t

of books rose above and at its heart was a p

ian said. "If your curse is anywhe

crolls, books, histories of lineages,

en she

tween two tomes. Ancie

f the Moon-

The cycle repeats with every death until the lie is confronted and ju

a symbol-a symbo

her finger

it," she

eading over her. "The mask... it

son in the mask is wearing one. Bu

omber. "Do you trust

ught of

N

we must expose them

shook t

th spun

ed furiously. Runes on t

sword. "Somethi

d away. "Wh

he sa

gure-hooded, faceless-slowly emerge

blood

in front of he

nd-and spoke, its voice a

embers t

ground