all tasted diffe

the faint perfume of ash and age-it all clung to her like a second skin. She had drifted

, but necessity. Her instincts w

he sun-if it was sun-was little more than a crimson smear behind stor

, embroidered with fine silver thread that glinted like spider silk. It was heavier than anything she w

ants bustled about. No guards patrolled the halls. Only the steady

r. Duskfall was a labyrinth of archways, winding staircases, and doors tha

when she found the

the keep had

s, packed with shelves, maps, scrolls, and books bound in leather,

t all sat Demetrius, h

s. His hair fell just past his shoulders, jet-black like spilled ink,

at first. Just turned a

finally said, not look

sleep," Pe

is

unsure if she was bei

room unguarde

t your

e my c

e said, and fi

rk, unreadable.

her arms. "Why

g a hand over a row of ancient spines. "Because k

e brides?"

a glance-sharp

harper th

ourt," she said. "I

hen listen carefully, Peach reigns. This castle i

. "What doe

beckoned her. "Come. There's

-

keep. The deeper they went, the colder the air grew,

arrow door and stepped

iling, with a single wide window overlooking

ackened iron shaped like vines and thorns.

epped

only h

emet

art sk

spered. "You hav

" he said behind her. "

face him. "Why

is isn't just a marriage. It's a treaty. And there are those w

I'll help you h

s glinting. "Or at least give the wolves somethin

lared. "So I

lly. "What you choose to becom

-

day, a lett

chment. A summons. From the court of House Ashgra

e holdin

s was expect

is new

laced her into a dress of deep burgundy silk. She looked at herself in

a symbol. A c

ssed in midnight velvet with a blade at

to protect me to

red her

"But I need you

descended into th