Crimson Contracts

he Crimson Court

r cele

bl

gger strapped tight to her thigh beneath layers of stolen silk. She had been dressed by the h

mpires

racef

gri

ers weren't

stomach

ave to prete

as velvet d

marble arch, his own mask carved from bone and obsidian. H

ave to pretend to e

't have to pret

ck harder than

hat you th

ou're something the world hasn't named

ts and lightning bru

, refusing

t me here t

nobles laugh and drink and feed like they rule this world. But the t

iers above their crystal f

u threaten

d. "Because I

d. "Because you c

de her fing

I don't just mean the dagger. Her power. Her memory.

as r

eyra stirring wh

he was

she

ay but his han

o his mouth and breathed

o be more than they want you to be. To be th

art ha

ot a q

could

ot lik

wil

near hers now,

d with something dangerous

d

t trust

ce was

e her

y, breath caugh

as said

the flicker

felt

my head," L

r head," he said

ors of the court, dagger pressed aga

eded a

as using her,

e wasn't using her, she had

ing at the stained glass windows depicting v

ght," she said, her vo

dn't

not h

's a

ntly. "I didn

oser. "Tell me

lready

o hear yo

he t

gaze was

bur

Not because of the Pact. Not because

re n

coul

idn't

coul

something break in him something

't sedu

fering he

utu

rved from

ted her at

as a

s an

qu

, Lyra did

ower, moonlight brushing her skin

olf fires of the North

wolf prince

not wai

come for

ould the

ld Ver

uld V

e pa

ee

he cente

osed he

nd carry h

d the one tr

n't ask for

ta

take... e