oomed like a

rble halls. Velvet tapestries. Music that never stopped. But no story had prepared her for the way it smelled like

ir glow soft and deceptive. Guards flanked her on both sides,

r opened, revealing a room soaked in g

r, hands folded behind her immaculate gown of silver-

leave us,

thout hesitation. Th

lowed. "Yo

"Do you know how many women have

d. "I didn't s

he first peasant girl to mistake kindness for affection. But I

despite the trembling in her knees. "I never asked

movement precise and elegant.

m," Liora

t was not a smile. "Love," she repeated. "How quaint

acts. Lineage charts. A letter from the House of Velmora nobles from

t does not feed kingdoms. It does not protec

ike a slap. But Li

marry him. I

wed. "You think thi

falt

're in his blood, he'll never stop wanting w

ruled," Liora said. "Maybe

ped like a dagger. "He

d between them,

er hand, the Queen tur

ll be given rooms, clothing, and food. To the outside worl

iora ask

re when you keep it close. Should you try to flee or

a ga

know about Bram. One word from me,

ook as she clen

f your silence settle i

ever had been. She touched the edge of the silken bedding and thought of Bram's thin

silk still bo

en's throne room, his voice echoing th

ined seated

said. "And silent.

hink I wouldn't hear? You think I wouldn

coolly. "The crown does. The peop

don't want the

throw away your future for a girl who canno

r than anyone I've ev

e more act of rebellion, and she suff

ched. But he knew when th

oward the forest, back to the grove that had o

th that two hearts burned s

ns and cruel luxury, curled against the w

ar

whispered he