THE DUKE'S CAPTIVE VELARYN

first sound that gre

name of the gods, wh

al steps away, drawing out his sword, his expression impassive. His eyes flash

he replied ma

paint splattered across her, it's yellow. I didn't even realize she

d that's just what I

"And here I had expected us to have come he

ed enough on the girl. "It

ly. "Then let us leave, so this vile plac

erworldly energy, and he had no wish to stay the

the gold walls, he turned and e

up to the col

but one that was harder, one that wasn't natural.** A

ned her e

Ba

one

ring torch illumin

rison

against her temple, fighting to get back to center. Where was she? The last thing she

had finally arr

ed tightly into fists, b

ken her away

me. Her

t budge, did not wince, only listened. The h

ed. The man from

His presence filled the air-untroubled, assured, as if he

moment, he

Th

e you?" a

blankly at him. She wasn't going to prov

head, as if contemp

y other word, turn

n two month

ice was stea

n his study, tapping lis

" continued Henry. "And she hasn'

way from the paper in f

led. "You so

man would have died weeks ago. But she still exists. Still breathing." His k

"Does she expect so

slowly. "I think she's

ause.

her ove

ur Grace, she was found in the Dark Fo

only say

t, abrupt headshak

exited the room, not

-

t her to him

rion didn't miss the way her ey

was cu

The manor.

seen anything

ack in his chair

t are

s snapped toward him,

od," he continued. "Yet you haven't even lost weight. You still lo

he did not

ched toward the table beside him. He picke

ra saw it, somethi

ened, her hands twi

s smirk

Ah

he murmured, his fingers resting lightly around

's breath

Two

lips p

"N

ngers relaxe

soft-softer than

hidden a voi

mured. "So you do

ustration. "Please," she said, her voi

ment. Then, slowly, he ran his fi

ide a voice like

a said n

t back on his lap, wa

ow substance from her body yet?" he

be from a plant called yemtema. Once the yellow pr

mmed. "Imp

"Not by any me

ck to Sylvara. She must hav

ghtly. "How did you surv

expression d

so slightly on the rabbit's neck. Not eno

ra's breath hitched, but she did not

ng," he murmured. "And I