The mate he failed to kill

Nyxara Thorne dead lost h

she wanted

of royal gold, and she had spent three years learning w

de the northern road. Alive, frightened, and carrying a m

rne was co

turning as the woman who o

had loved D

ved his arms were sa

with tears in her eyes and waite

died when he signed

ist wore black leather, carried two

a lie. The ha

r. "Six guards on the ground. Four riders

carries the

back. The rest h

mountain road. Rain had turned the earth to mud, slo

glimmered on th

ing's

ghtened around the

breathing," Ve

m f

liar for someone wh

did not

hurt the man who had condemned her. Sometimes she imagined his blood on her hands. Sometime

orehead, his hand resting over hers, and the quiet promise

ever take

been

n the one

k. "The horses are slowing. If we wait

kno

ive the

raised

ly the women nearest her could hear. "No

ve us no choice?

ake it

nded from

he animal reared, screaming. Before the guards could organize

rd shouted. "Fo

lsin called from somewh

not attac

, where the horses would struggle, and which guards carried crossbows. Elsin

de at his saddle strap. "Drop it, or you'll

rd hit

straight for

epped into

to

d drove him to his knees. When he reached for his sword w

ould

fast and shallow

know w

r face. Recognition arrive

ips p

allowed against the blade.

've h

ou were. The kin

-" he beg

any

onscious and opene

re three

oy of perhaps twelve, his wrists wrapped in silver wi

her, he scrambled

ered. "I didn't te

here to pu

ed to the knif

ave on

down. Then s

it feels like when people decide y

in his fac

beside him began

rt you," Nyxara said.

. "It's silver. I

t pull. I'

if it

me, and I

s wrists. They

e younger one whispered, "Thank you," again and again

turned to th

ith a sharp hiss. The mark on the boy's throa

essed his hand a

asked, gently. "What

ark would make m

assed thr

said

d, as if the walls might still hear him. "They to

erent

ow to be scared." He swallowed.

n Ho

n old, familiar p

still feeding innocent lives into whatever mon

walk?"

hink

lean o

riage, one by one, and settled the boy aga

document case besid

r clasp. Draven's personal

se turn

breathing hard, a cut across her cheek.

w l

for whatever yo

me a m

t have a

give m

ened t

xt listed the names of prisoners. Beneath them w

could stop it. The shape of his handwriting. The slight downward st

hat she sti

at her finge

s of himself inside her that three y

ra asked, more sof

esn't

tters

ra said, because it was

d the d

capital. They were to be transferred to the u

ttered. "That's a pre

read

ntence had been writt

MUST BE PRESENT WHE

blood tur

ir?" Vey

n't k

l for

know that

u have

id. "I know what his silver marks can do. And if he's planning anothe

at her. "Then

t y

ose from

ice cut through the rai

sness. He was staring directly at Nyxar

yelled. "The king

ried across

," Veyra

talk," Ny

xar

t h

"You think you're hiding? Every man in the capi

s that made every trace

en searching for yo

ead turne

aid. "That's how lon

long I've

the day you disappeared

hea

he capital, hidden

d searche

imself, torn apart his chambers, and spent sleep

k the woman who had be

want to do?

thi

thi

rder. He doesn't

if he

s jaw t

keep searchi

se to Veyra and turned tow

ho can walk, walks. Everyone who can'

the older woman asked, her

king's men ca

e such a

be," Nyxara

her back. Veyra took the rear, the document case tucked beneath her arm, her eye

d not

Not in fr

rest, a final page slipped from

lmost mi

ause something pale caug

le girl with dark eyes and a si

ax Dorne's handwriti

ING'S UNCLAI

stopped

oice came from far

d not

he knew t

r daughter was