The Cursed Empress

ike a beast that hadn't decide

like a test. The marble beneath her feet was polished to a shine, r

but the burn of the runes remained. They p

if it was pain

nce the Council declare

y ordered her to m

e guards posted outside her door. Not the maids who brought her food in silence. No

es in her hea

she thought she was going mad. But when she had leaned closer,

onged

ld anyone. Sh

a mistake waiting to happen. She wouldn'

to keep still, the pow

ing pregnant w

. she would be

tress arrived j

d Madam Alira, with silver hair pile

night," she said briskly. "The we

The wedding is

ed under moonlight." Alira raise

ver worn anything that wasn't stitched from

with bolts of fabric-white silk, black lace, threads

ready circling her with measuring tap

shed but

y had c

ller now. Firmer. There was a quiet strength in her limbs that hadn't been

ng tape over Nyra's collarbone. Her

t fade," s

N

d, not with warmth-but with aw

held

Only function. Survival. And the power that no

inished, she

will cover your face until the prince li

It slipped out befo

ly think he'

ad. "That's not for

pr

like a knife

t and heavy, like a storm

er hair was woven with gold coins. Her hands were painted

he mirror, she didn'

a ghost of a q

silence. No fanfare.

to deliver her to a man who would rath

to be held in

highest point, where the stars could be seen even at mid

ugh the towering doo

ue flames. The air shimmered with sacred magic. The ceiling arc

d of the hall

dnight armor with a ceremonial

ove as she

even

ncient and skeletal, his voice

lurred

romises of unity. B

eath her veil. The runes

n't wan

the

the

e her like she was the swor

also wanted s

es

reve

hing

nder

ed her. Why, when Thorne finally stepped forward to lift her veil

pau

ent, thei

ust above the veil

re he co

thunder spl

n the Night H

s ec

st stumb

Ny

mething insi

ld. Her chest tightened. Her kn

her like a river

aw vi

as

earing a golden crown, s

of shadow

ne of

, female, powerful-

eir bride. You

ything we

in her

on

dead. The c

s was in

to find her arms bound in si

r creak

Thorne

jaw was tight. His sword was sheat

nothing

ooked

y, he

ery candle exploded. The priest fled. The seal on

sta

't rem

rkly. "You were gl

pped c

unstable. Dangerous. T

d. "So what now? Yo

aid, quiet. "I

n, cold eyes

is palace. In my shadow. Until I find o

idn't

't b

ed, "Then you'd better keep

dropped to

starting to re

seemed

lit itself

time, i