y enough. I'd spent the remainin

e my mind churned through every

n against my skin, its damning evi

d had shifted irrevocably in th

rough my chamber windows, I pre

ound proof of his claims hidden at my mother's tomb. If he had lied-well, then I'd

dark leather breeches, a fitted t

earance. My weapons were carefull

dagger at my hip, and poison pins

would-be assassins paid d

y empty at this hour, populated on

ts. I moved through the shadows wi

games that had prepared me

castle's main walls, accessible thr

e my sixteenth birthday, when fat

d required legitimate acce

the others, built from white mar

ed no expense in creating a mon

d inscribed poetry about eterna

hen, the most dangerous deception

cka

ith careful steps, counting stones

identical to all the others-perfectl

distinguis

t its surface, it shifted

y fingers around the stone's edg

oncealed hinges. Behind it lay a sma

ed package tha

ling hands, unwrapping layer after

llection of letters, these bearing

object that made my

he silver pendant she'd worn every

were supposed to guar

ically after her death, convinced t

her k

, clutching the pendant while my vi

adn't just known about the Thorn

aken from the scene

was dated just wee

nd her essence now strengthens the foundation upon which we will build. The pendant proved an excellent focus for the ritu

re their full meaning penetrated m

er very soul had been trapped, used as fuel for whatever monst

chnical aspects of the binding in

ding all projections. Her natural abilities will provide the perfect cond

we will be able to channel not j

simultaneously through her c

ntended to use me as a living gateway to access every pow

tter was the

eate the necessary spiritual connection, and consummation will complete the power transfer regardless of his personal feelings on the matter. If he proves

s revelation. Prince Aldric-my int

's schemes-was as much a vic

ed they'd been trying to manipul

d their

han an enemy. Or it could be an elaborate decept

and pendant, tucking them into my

nformation painted a more compl

just about political marriage or e

reatened the fundamental ba

ps made me freeze, my hand instin

cemetery at dawn, moving with pu

om

ent's far side, using its bulk to c

s, measured pace, the subtle clink

r trying to appe

Captain Aldwin. "I know you're th

as you b

xpression neutral despite the shoc

ar

howed concern rather than suspicion

sched

away from the hidden compartme

he stonework. "Did

u. There's been a development re

me. "Prince Aldric has requested

l be here with

s for gathering intelligence and bu

e. I'd expected to have more than

information and establish s

a reason for

cording to his message. There

s, and he fears waiting might expos

is

te the timeline because someone s

eemed remarkably convenient, comi

th

ther approved

evidence of the prince's devotion

vations about that interpretation.

y the security

ated." I began walking toward the c

se I should know about

maller escort than originally plan

ary mind found this concerning.

upremely foolish about

mber of men needed for a specific

oldiers could overwhelm the castl

for a proper siege. The perfect nu

he's doing," I said with false confi

d for their stra

wledgment carried a wealth of un

to the crown was absolute, but hi

ient coincidences and

gate, I caught sight of a figure wa

e out features, but the stillness of

rather than ca

ents? One of Father's spies, ens

entirely, representing inte

ivity around the castle recently? New faces, changes in routi

aze toward the distant figure. "The

t the royal family. Nothing overtl

onal pa

ind of q

ses, the royal family's daily rout

y debating how much to reveal. "S

s whether they're working

entered was more complex than sim

sition, each with their agenda, e

adva

ter of it all, the prize every

arters," I decided. "Discrete, b

omes within fifty f

should warn you, if someone truly

be enough t

'm not relying solely o

rance, where the bustle of daily li

changing posts, courtiers preparin

y would

s if the world hadn't fund

s we parted ways, his voice low an

reful who you trust. These aren't

to the

l concern he tried to hide behind p

n. Better than

ecause I have the distinct feeling

e stakes t

y chambers, my mind raced through

Aldric arrived. An unknown amoun

y that reached deeper than I'd

uel for their

y ability to control its pace, but

possessed. I had allies they didn'

d sustained me through ten

ed timelines and their binding ritu

f the Skulls, and the

was about