The Cursed Empress
with fire i
ut in a harsh hiss, and steam spiraled in the morning chill, dancinide. 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