chambers before

hind me with enough force to rat

ed itself in the wooden target a

t a princess should learn 'ladyli

ther scars that marked my

ng before the tall windows that over

g alliances. Fucking men who thin

effec

my great-grandmother's spirit sti

ones: "Language, child. Queens d

e damn well pleases." I yanked the

weight helping to center my scatte

a sailor whe

right through sixty years of bloods

till young enough

ry waking moment since childhood c

s with the masters, language studie

ons learning to commune with the spirits boun

replaceable, the perfect heir to t

some northern prince whose only q

famous

ornfiel

ing desk, finally allowing myself to

tical marriage-marriage to the s

ars ago and opened my mother's thro

l cha

to the locked drawer where I kept m

my clothing, close to my heart, where the pain

k, revealing letters tied with fade

t during her final months. I'd rea

pulled out the leather-bound book

ad haunted me

day. The northern lords send mess

e whispers about the Thornfield fa

tried to speak with him about my

ens to me, if these fears prove tr

ough the lies and

tried to warn Father. Instead of listening, he'd probably sha

me aloud, tasting its bitterness.

ndmo

ergy as my great-grandmother's spi

d the northern territories when you

d was barely more than a boy whe

us circum

icious

ed bandits, but everyone knew the

ce." Her voice grew colder. "He's b

gh marriage, murder, or both. Your fa

who'll bite the ha

his

Some say he's as ruthless as his

The spirit's laugh was like wind t

ison runs in bloodlines

ssed it against my chest, feeling the

unite our kingdoms through marriage

aken so mu

was exactly the op

er door interrupted

he fluid grace that had made her

was perfectly arranged despite t

f mischief that usually m

der," she said, settling into the

royal wedding.

face for signs of genuine pleasure

ible simul

ildfire." She leaned forward, her sm

handsome. Strong jaw, piercing bl

ne turned mockingly roman

believe in happy endings." I stood

rtyard below. "This is

a joined me at the window, her refl

in iron and timber. Their armies

trengthen Shadowm

nce me this is a good idea,

metimes the best revenge is succes

ppened to your mother. Neither h

ill only get

ching her expression for deceptio

e who'd seen the aftermath and und

he few who'd supported my quest

ur

e you sug

field duchess. Get close to Lord C

estroy them

it came from Lydia's lips. Revenge

on. And wedding the enemy's son

unities I couldn't gain

a wife and mother? Abandon m

." Lydia's words hit like physical

ht complicate in

der should have shocked me. Inste

garner sympathy. A childless wido

usband's family's crimes would b

nge

this conside

ou were executing traitors this mor

There's something else you shoul

ed to this a

d chille

e this marriage. He demanded it."

on about certain activities t

evenue, unauthorized military actio

he re

rhammer to the chest: Blackmail. F

een cornered like a wounded ani

ield had been planning this for

t. He'd killed my mother, escaped

th his son as the

you kno

and secrets. "I have my sou

ils, another knock echoed throug

e wood: "Your Highness, the king r

ity dispatch from th

eeing my suspicions reflected in

ter my father had announced my

I murmured, checking my weapons out of

t-grandmother's voice whispered ur

mes awakening. Powers that have sl

nor

door handle, cold dread sett

ed into silence, leaving me with no

only the beginning of something

ical m

just the mother's murder. And I was about to d