The Half-blood crown

ows across the stone walls. Alaric sat propped against a mountain of pillows, his silver hair spread loose, his

or behind her. "Yo

e was rough, sc

arms crossed. "You let Voss speak for you today. Yo

ink he was sp

htened. "What

ves I am too weak to rule. Voss believes he can control the throne through you. And Darius believes he can o

didn't you

do." He set the handkerchief aside. "A

ists. "You were testing me

, perhaps three. The council knows. Darius knows. By the time the next full moon rises, they will move ag

aid. "Name me regent. Let me rule b

d heir cannot sit the throne, even as regent. The council wo

ange the

ed with blood. With magic older than this kingdom. O

wh

r a half-blood who

er heart slow. "You knew. You knew all

ther was human. The old laws never account

prop

age. "Your mother found this in the temple ruins the year before you were born. It speaks of a ha

g was in the old tongue-she could barely read it. But on

aid slowly. "Not because I can't shift.

es

. "And you ne

ld try to force the shift. Afraid you would break yours

ened. "I'm not a ch

morrow night will be dark. No light. No pull. It is the safest night for you to try. I have spoken to the Moon Priestess. She will meet you

pounded. "And

will choose someone worse. And Xiayoa will fall into the hand

e popped. Somewhere beyond the wa

"Tomorrow night. I wi

sed his ey

d to leave, he sp

sed at

she believed you would be the one to change everything."

d corridor and closed the door behind her. Her c

t, she would

ould decide if

-

ok from her father sat open on her table. She had tried to read more of it, but the old tongue was a maze she could

ky was black. The moon was a sliver, fadi

at her door

is

's voice. "I bring word

ervant girl stood in the corridor, hooded and

this. And to tell yo

me w

t empty. Someone else

ood chill

She only said to be careful."

Inside, in elegant hand

the

moment. Then she crumpled it in her

her married. A prince who wanted her tamed. And

ht everythin

ything