EstrellaI lie in bed with my arms crossed, glaring at the canopy overhead. Anwen Solberg may be the most stubborn, most callous man I’ve ever met in my life. How dare he call me weak? How dare he commit such atrocities in my name and then have the gall to act surprised when I show him the truth of
After he was crowned, he put off the matter of the portrait for years, claiming his princely portrait would do. So as the years passed, an image of Father at perhaps sixteen hung over his head, growing ever more out of date. On his thirtieth birthday, Mother put her foot down. He had to replace the
AnwenPain screams through every limb, starting and ending in the center of my chest. Liquid fire burns through me. Someone is tearing my heart out.I lurch up in bed, where I passed out after my run with Kieran, and find myself alone. Windows and doors all closed. I grope my chest. No sign of injur
She doesn’t shake worse. She doesn’t flinch. It might be the best I’m going to get.Taking Kieran’s advice, I go right for the hard stuff. Nothing I’d ever dream of bringing up with the girls I used to spend time with. “So, my mother’s in the dungeons.”No response. That makes sense. I plunge forwar
Estrella“Yes, Mother.” I prod at the toast on my plate. For the last week, that’s about all I’ve eaten. I have no stomach. I just keep turning the night over and over again.Castor shakes his head. “I don’t believe you were even listening.”I glare at my brother, but in truth, I wasn’t. I know I s
My stomach twists. I grip the arms of my chair. Anwen said—“Early this morning, a body was found,” Floyd says. “Looking to have been thrown from the highest tower in the castle.”“By the Goddess,” Mother murmurs.Castor just shakes his head.“That of a Dun’s Crossing soldier, one who had been missi
AnwenThe tears on Estrella’s cheeks catch the late morning light like diamonds, and I know I’m already too fucking late.This is what I get for following my head, letting it lead me away from my mate. Baz’s first call to the tower was fine. But as soon as I saw Harper’s broken body at the base, I s
Estrella shivers like she’s been shocked, but she still doesn’t look at me.“And Kieran”—I swallow—“he’s the reason I changed. He figured out what Father was doing and exposed him first to the men following and suffering under his orders. To those who needed the information most. That man, the one w
Anwen grunts in pain. “Okay, that’s enough.”“Just a moment longer,” I plead.Out of the corner of my eye, I see his indulgent smile.After another moment, my family unwinds themselves from me. I exhale in a gust as my pain becomes manageable again. Tess perches on the edge of the seemingly wooden t
EstrellaI float for a long time in darkness. Not exactly here or absent. Not exactly comfortable or in pain. Not very much at all.Then, my whole body flames back to screaming, torturous life at once. I am the heart of an inferno, consuming everything that I am to produce the flame. A hoarse, ragge
Like she should be. Fuck. If Estrella is already gone somehow, already looking down on me, and she sees me abandoning all the progress I’ve made the second she’s not watching, she’s going to find a way to become a ghost just to kick my ass.I start pacing. Raven takes a dropper of the liquid, winces
AnwenSomeone screams. I think it might be me.I slide across the glass-covered floor to Estrella’s side and wrap my arms around her. My heart hammers.“No, no, no,” I mumble. “You can’t—not after—please.” My voice breaks on the last word.Her body is still warm. That has to mean something. It fucki
Behind me, Estrella sucks in a breath. Fabric rustles. Every instinct screams to keep my eyes on Floyd—I glance back at her. She is pushing into a sitting position. The black veins climbing up her throat threaten to choke me, but she nods. Sways, nearly falls, but fucking nods and picks a piece of
AnwenI pluck at the neck of my wedding clothes and look at myself in the mirror.“You look like shit,” Baz says from the bed behind me. Despite Estrella’s efforts, he’s still healing.“Thanks.” He’s right, though. Sundrop’s bright colors just kind of make me look sick. And the damned thing is so st
The cold. If it hurts enough, Anwen will feel me. He’ll know. And he’ll free me from this Goddess-damned ice so I can tear Floyd Winters limb from limb, as he deserves. That’s what Floyd missed.I grind the tender flesh of my ankles against the jagged edge of my prison.“You’re barely fucking civili
EstrellaMy heart thunders against my ribcage. My pulse roars. Mother, Castor, Tess—all gone. And with the wedding in an hour, I cannot yet mind-link to Anwen. I am alone.With the man who murdered my father.An oil-slick smile splits Floyd’s face as he circles me. The dagger in his hand shines. I l
King Andri clears his throat loudly. “In Snowcrest Canyon, it is rude to have a private conversation in public.”“Apologies.” Kieran dips his head, but I catch the scowl he’s hiding. “Prince Anwen was curious about how Prince Hollis came to hold such a position of power.”I smile as surprise washes