Sacrifice of the Heart

laughter and music fading as she entered the dimly lit corridors of the palace

r Mor

out her that she didn't. She had tried to ignore him, to pretend his presence was nothing more than

followed h

floor. The guards were stationed at their usual posts, oblivious to her movements. T

corner when she saw it

e was

ing. Intruder. But no-this wasn't a common thief or an assassi

stepped in

sp

presented earlier. His suit jacket was gone, the top buttons of his shirt undone, revealing a gl

sed her presence, his head

eyes l

ment, neither

link of an eye

beside her head, caging her in. The space between them vanished, and

is voice was low, smooth as silk, but there was a

she shot back, refusing to shrink under h

-a mix of leather, smoke, and something unmistakably male-wrapping around her sense

ing more than a criminal, hidi

re than a caged bird,

she cared to admit, but sh

f you think I'll let you and your family sink

t flickering into something

ushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek, "a

caught. This

them together. But her body betrayed her-her pulse quickened, her skin burned where he touched her,

o

inst his chest

mirk on his lips told her ev

e said as he stepped back into

sappearing into the

her chest, her heart ham

r whole life fea

, she realized somethi

prophecy she

was

d stone wall. Her heart pounded against her ribs, refusing

ods' name had

n her skin. It was ridiculous-infuriating, even. She had spent years perfecting her composur

as dan

retti was

o move, as if she was still t

togethe

er feet forward, her hands clenchin

s of the palace. The scent of candle wax and aged stone filled the air as she descended

ily rarely left the underworld unless they had a reason.

after s

ower hall. The torches here burned lower, casting flickering light alo

isper of

tanding before an ancient iron door. It was carved with

ed. That door... it led

d pulled out a small obsidian dagger. Without hesitation,

s blood hit

runes

e door unlocked itself, mag

he magic buried in the pa

ou, Vespe

d of her boot against the stone e

ad snapped

ht cast shadows over his sharp features, his bloodied

he s

is wasn't over

iked. "What are

n his sleeve. "Retrieving so

ill humming from its runes. "That room contai

oth, but beneath it was something sharper-something almost... r

"Then why don't

toward her. "You're bo

he closed the distance between them, his pr

" he murmured, his voice lower no

in her veins. "I don't ta

e impossible. Then-so fast she barely had time

ock shot t

ng else. Somethi

etween them charged with raw energy. It pulsed throu

on her wrist tightened-not i

lt it

ence stretched

r his breath and ya

back, her skin

s that?" sh

w tight. But there was something in his ey

d strode through the open door, di

idn't s

irst time in her

phecy s

terrifi