SECRET OF THE ASHES AND CROWN

lies are whispered u

L

was starti

e trees, cloak trailing behind her like a half-forgotten thought. Her heart was

addicted t

late

e bench where treaties were once signed, and kings once whispered allia

pered to no one. "

r, someth

A

have sta

his own logic. But Kael wasn't built for logic anymore. Not when the echo of h

ard wall with a satchel of

from the cliff path. H

didn'

he would

MO

h other at t

se. He

led between the

the impossibl

aid softly, seeing the s

"I didn't bring a crow

the ros

owers from someone who

head. "What do y

a whisper of li

s, trembling seco

and aching and full of thi

meone s

GU

ws like wolves-six men in

ough time to pul

cried. "He'

y didn'

he bark cracked. Another struck him in the gut

even as they dragg

because they knew who she was. She struggled

as sha

s surr

Queen wa

ONE ROO

Kael in lik

bruised, e

n the dais, still in her orchar

raise her voice. S

es never leaving her daughter. "You risked

chin. "This is

w. "And yet it is her

punished, I will speak to the co

the Queen snapped. "You are a

l me," El

s immediate an

inked.

ove is treason, then cut my throat now. I'd

DE

didn't k

crueler

burned into his forearm. If he returned to

Dawn. Alone. Stripped of her titl

torn apart

goo

ast

And the sound of som

ira scratched Kael's name into t

l stared at the fire burning his skin, an

a bla

somethi