h indignation. "The King himself has granted our betrothal. It i

g, Adrian. You want the beautiful, innocent bride, but you also want her to have a spotless reput

supposed to me

insulting way possible," I said calmly. "You created

spat. "You always were! You're a cold, unfeeling woman, Elara! You have no

uld have no trouble forgetting me and focusi

elen may have your promise now, but he is leagues away on the border. He cannot protect you. One w

e was trying to intimidate me, to use his rank to bully

ice firm. "Because my answer is no. I am to be General Kaelen's wife. I am the future Duchess

erly baffled by my defiance. He still couldn

"Fine. Have it your way. But when you come crying to me, don't expect any sympathy."

e alone. She looked at me, her ey

, her voice trembling with rage. "You think beca

well. In my past... I mean, in the past, I arranged a good match for you with a

ed her like a sister. She was a distant, poor relation of my mother's, and I had taken

don't want your pity! I wante

hina. And now you are livi

a cunning, theatrical fear. Her eyes darted toward the open

voice suddenly high and panic

onto the stone path beside the ornamental pond. With a final, wild

can't swim!" she screamed, flailing

s face a mask of fury. He had obviously been waitin

esitate. He strode directly to me, his eyes

stung, my ears rang. My loyal maid, Lyra, who had been stan

ss!" Lyra yelled, trying to pu

hard she fell, her head cracking against the sharp corner of a wooden

of them... something inside me snapped. The last vestiges of my old self, the part that might

hteous fury, and at Seraphina, who was being helped from the

ey would pay. I made a silent vow, looking at Lyra's still form.