rtyards and clapped off high walls of stone. The palace loomed above like a brooding hunter, its dark sp

uniform, jaw clenched and eyes scanning everything. Elara didn't ques

cast gold light lit the walls, but they never reached so near as to to

as if they were

and held up a hand to two guards. "The Luna

widened. Lu

he opened the door a

, polished silver everywhere. It felt like a trap. She sto

e. I'll post two

him. "Cassian,

"The prince

chill rise in h

arsher. "He thinks yo

sound high and acid

Cassian

stant, she felt a strange jolt

nable to hold the words back. "A

. "You've said things l

ed defending me. And every time I return... the

red at her,

madness," sh

inally. "It isn

s fluttered

you, too. Before we met in the village, I'd seen you in visio

uck her forcef

I thought I

twisted. "

enough that she could smell the pine o

d no a

uld speak again, a loud

y on edge. One of the

guard said. "He requests the Lu

ed. Elara's

hungry,

"It wasn't a re

ont of her. She'll co

He said he would send

ne else me

. "You don't have to stay alone. I'll be nearby

d, heart

-

om was a den

floor, and trays of silver laden with untouched food. Prince Rhys sat at the h

y had been lovers for years

compliment. "You sent gua

ve the theatrics.

d of the table. A servant fill

sual dreams," Rhys said, s

ned. "Who

ears eve

he said, her spine har

oo bad. I though

't even

rogue. Cassian's standing guard over you. You have no wolf and yet you're walking a

emained

understand. About a girl who has an hourglass mark. A girl who

ell. He kno

want from me

onchalantly. "And to keep you close. There are. Those a

en't you trie

Because I'd rather for

p. "That wo

I think we'll find out how long yo

e of it. She marched

-

t sleep t

ilver dagger glinting in the sunlight. Cassian dr

ed out o

ing wa

en the door. The guards

pt up he

racing her heart. Every shadow seemed t

e grand stairc

ic

urg

, staying behind

s Cas

nothe

afe here," C

ut if we act too quickly, th

He already is. He aske

was a

e," the other voice said.

blood

ll?" Cass

The one holding he