The Fallen Archon's Divine Bride

E MCCA

sshouse, listening to my father's voice boom

g to the gathered aristocracy that his beloved elder daughter, Kand

rennon Montgomery was my fia

e, every thunderous burst of hands felt like a desperate at

lastered across his face. He truly believed he had secured his ultimate triumph.

y pact requires a daughter of pure blood. Now that Kristie's former engagement has been dissol

ey all knew the truth-I had been discarded, my engagement

e, the heavy wrought-iron gat

d, flanked by an armed guard. In his hands, he carried a heavy imperial scroll sealed with royal wax-the mandatory balancing act of the Imperial C

his magic-amplified voice ringing t

toric sacrifices made by Archon Holden Carlisle IV, and now that the Mccarty family's second daughter, Kristie

ged into absolu

he air grew thick with a grotesque blend of

Carli

ander who had been poisoned by black dragonblood during the disastrous Tragedy of the Black Moon's Nigh

us-tossed aside to fulfil

y expected me to break. They expected the unstable, emotional Kristie who had supposed

t, casting a stern, warning

to hear. "The High Sovereign has blessed our house with double honor. Do not indulge in

as a unstable fool before

he frantic sobbing they we

a drawn blade. My eyes were completely

ward me. She was a vision in a gown woven with sun-cr

fingers gripping my wrist wi

oftly for the onlookers. "Don't be disheartened. I will p

cloying floral perfume suf

my ears. "Now that you have no marriage prospects left, at least you still get the tit

wrist, then slowly raised my e

rld was a quie

so?" I

led a white lace kerchief from my sleeve and thoroughly wiped the exact spot on

ed an inexplicable, razor-sharp

ice-cold curve formed at the edge of my lips. "After all... the ni

rk on Kandace's fa

res, quickly followed by a spark of rage. Her manicured nails dug into her palms, but with the eyes of the royal

d swept past me with her head held hig

swarm of gossip discussing the starkly

lose to my late mother slipped near, qui

ne sorrow. "Now that your engagement is gone, they treat you like

ry herbalist who had vanished under mysterious circ

hat my mother truly

ly into my sleeve, suppressing

"Miss Mccarty, your departure to the Carlisle estate will take place on the very s

by my father. One daughter paraded in glory through the ca

calmly, looking the h

f guard. He paused, giving me a long, searching

quet. At my father, who was already drinking wine with wealthy duke