The Cursed Empress

with fire i

ut in a harsh hiss, and steam spiraled in the morning chill, dancin

ide. Her palms dug into si

om was

t it

reathing-slow

rned s

window with his back

rise over the palace rooftops like

his time," he said w

n the sheets. "Were you

he replied coolly. "You jus

t she refused to show it. The fire was stronger today-coiled insi

stand in corner

inally

his cuffs, no crown, no visible weapons-but his entire presence radiated danger

g," he said, voice as sha

. "No one i

ust

nds treat their brides like pawns,

"You're not a pawn.

htly. "Then I'

ut I don't mind risks. I jus

eak," she

ured. "But yo

d crystal. Firelight flickered in wall sconces shaped like open

two steps

des

knives. Some looked openly hostile. Others masked their judg

thria. The girl wit

hould've died w

d without looking at her. She

begin,"

ouncillor Varyn, if she remembered cor

llages are resisting the new tax edicts. They're

Nyra said, before sh

turned t

did

d. "The Empr

u're demanding tribute from regions barely su

silenc

g at her. "We will reduce the tax

stunned. "Y

send the word that it w

stomach

s usi

to win public favor. The people would l

, become his sh

Cruel. C

g for the rest

saw ev

e alone again, walking the long

cient," she

ak stride. "You

"I just expected p

sto

ly ran i

ace was close. Too close.

need poison

n her neck

back, cal

now. You alive is more useful. At le

raced. "

for his breath to brush her skin. "Bec

stood alone in th

fountains and frost-covered rose vines. She clutched

ngers

her skin, pulsing in rh

zed her e

. The visions in he

bur

ga

in. Something clawed at the inside

we

wrong. Wild

ned her

hot from he

rk. Not a

mn of

path. Roses wilted in

red back,

rushed b

a

she could collapse. His gr

g control," h

ean-" Her v

scanning her hands, her

ower," he said. "It's

ha

esit

otion. Pa

"Then I'm doomed. Tha

ifting her chin gently. Not pos

. car

in fire," he said. "But yo

ared a

sed marriage began, she saw something

s war

recog

s...

e broken glyp

r rose from

remem

she'll aw