ina Ha
n three years my feet did not carry the weight of that house. The morning air was cold, but I hardly fel
Celeste asked in a low voice, clutc
Rest," I said. The capital of Aeridor, and the s
aphi
, thin and breathless, and
keep pace. She was alone, and the first thing I noticed was how carefully she had put her face back together
. "Forgive me. I spoke out of turn. A mother's heart, you understand-when she sees her son's house in
I let her hold my hand, curious to s
d alone on the road-there are men in this kingdom who would do terrible things for far less than the little you carry. It is
word was a warning: you are weak, you a
nia," I said evenly, drawing my han
g before you go, from a woman who has lived longer than you and lost more than you can imagine. A wife who walks out of her husband's house is no
e, slipped in so softly
ars picking at me from the edges of rooms, an
"A woman who is already free does not
ash of the creature beneath the silk-and then
ng quiet. A black stallion came gal
was twisted with rage. He reined in hard, the horse sn
voice dropping back into that soft, stead
He brushed past her
ng around the edges as her son-her whole fami
o you think you're doing?" Etha
olly. "As you can
sound escaped him. "With just that? Where do you think you can go
. "Ethan, there is noth
ers to my grandmother, humiliated her and my mother, and now the whole es
the garden. Blanca had wanted the title of a wea
ed. "For the more noble Miss Collier to
ttering, his face deep
e. "Seraphina, I know you're angry. But you cannot be this selfish
old, short laugh. "An oath? Did you think of tha
was a boon from the king! An honor! You cannot j
belief that being Dragon-born placed him
hat both parties must remain faithful,"
ated. "I still acknowledge you as my wi
face and felt the last o
," I said flatly. "Good fo
hand and made t
Seraphina, don't push me. Do you think your little guild manager, Owen Foster, can
was my mother's old steward, the man who had helpe
cold. "Ethan, do you truly believe
him. He froze, a flicker of
eleste's arm and walked toward the distan
urning my words over, or perhaps what was left of his pride
r face-not anger now, but something nearer to dread, as if she had just wa
the road. Celeste's arm was tense und
hat man was a life I
s no longer that small estate,
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