THE LAST QUEEN

rate, his gaze locked on Lady Aurelia. "The time has come for

s. "I agree, Marcellus. But I fear Queen Lyra harbors ambitions of he

off. "Lyra may be merciless, b

e sharpening. "But she plays for herself

m, heavy and suffocating. At

asked, one brow lifti

a crossed the chamber to a wooden table, lifted a jug of wi

at the table. Lowering himself into a chair, he accepted the goblet and to

picion threading her words.

and froze, the conversation

She has pledged me the governorship of a key prov

pau

rin," Aurelia countered, her gaze u

three ranks to climb before reaching the throne," she added,

into his thoughts. With a graceful sweep of her hand, an image

erarchy o

K

Pri

D

L

Gen

Cap

Kni

Ser

Sol

Sq

e will not cast us aside once

hardened. "She will n

ed, slamming her palm against the table. Mar

embled with fury. Grief blazed in her narrowed eyes as sh

s cried, his voice breaking. Tears pooled in his ey

e was my sister!" Her finger stabbed the air between them

nite further, Marcellus spo

f she i

r fell int

s. Her lips parted, but no sound came. At last, h

d. "The soldiers were Torin's e

her breath quivering. "Are

ave a slow,

ore spilling freely. She strode for

rom me all this

r blow had landed. A cold resolve burned in his eyes as he held her gaze. "I swear

ly, though his heart pounded. Pushing the door open, he drew both their eyes, the c

**

Even

Draped in a gown of silver silk that shimmered like starlight, she moved with quiet elegance toward him. To

her voice a gentle melody tha

releasing it slowly, h

he said, his tone rich with de

brushing a loose strand of hair

t smile. "I will visit the orphanage first,

r close. He pressed a tender kiss against her lips, his v

oothed the hem of his robe, lingering on his shoulde

u," Torin murmured, his lips

'Last Kiss' for you while I am gone," she te

g. "Then give me a last kiss befo

capturing Torin's lips once more in a parting kiss be

**

ASHV

, her brows faintly drawn, her

" she said, her voice edged wit

soft waves. Vashti studied herself in silence, catching the weariness shadowing her features. She f

ss stole the strength from her limbs. She staggered once, then coll