a P

ury that silenced the whispers around me. In the end, Kaelen didn't counter my final, reckless bid. He simply sat

t through me as the auctioneer's hammer f

the payment desk, m

ng my eyes. "It seems all your accounts with

t. Frozen? How? Only my fath

and handing the attendant his own platinum card. I

dant stammered, looking even more flus

n Pack, the wealthiest pack on the continent, couldn't pay its bills.

ed grace, pulling out a sleek, featureless black card-his personal acc

e said, his voice loud en

attendant, relieved, placed the diamon

ught he might give it to me, a twi

box, and fastened the "Tear of the Moon Goddess" around her neck.

ould feel hundreds of pairs of eyes on me, some pitying

system," Silas whispered, his voice tight with r

he strength to back it up, don't try to protect things

"You should have come with me,"

heel and walked out of that auction house, leaving my dig

e, ignoring the pounding on my door. I just wa

evices I'd had installed weeks ago, a desperate attempt to understand the conspiracy

lained. "First the horse, now this auction fiasc

ice grumbled. "And I'm certainly not going

ing with frustration. "A woman scorned i

others, low and absolute. "My woman,

security feed, picking up a small, elegantly wrappe

ssert his authority to the others, felt li

s claim. I didn't see the profound, soul-deep despair that settled over Silas's face. All I knew