E MCCA

olden's fever spiked viole

ce, his breathing shallow and rapid as he tumbled in

rning brow and chest. But I knew better than anyone that cold compresses were merely a temporary line of defense. To

he heavy double doors were shoved open with

d by a squad of aggressive, stoic servants. A massive iron key ring hung prominently from her wide

was piercing, shrill, and dripping with arrogance as

ed breath, "My lady... that is Mrs. Warren, the Head Hou

see. The entrenched old guard h

to lay hands on the Archon?" Mrs. Warren demanded, completely

g the front of my traveling gown, and turned

," I declared, my voice echoing smoothly through the tall room. "I am tending to my h

k her like a physical blow. Her fa

her finger pointing trembling at my chest. "Incompetent physicians have tortured him enough, and

r stepped forward immediately, reac

front of me, but they shoved h

to see who dar

rried a razor-sharp, lethal resona

er letter opener-its polished blade gleamed under the candlelight.

Empire," I said, my tone deadly quiet. "If you lay so much as a single finger on my skin tonight, I will have y

y words, struck pure terror into the two maids. They faltered, glancing at

rl!" Mrs. Warren trembl

Archon's condition better than anyone. Then answer me this: while he was under your 'attentive' care, who a

ned, but no w

y War God freeze in a drafty room and starve until he was reduced to skin and bones?" I

eable accusation. "You-a greedy, negligent, incompetent servant w

red violently, but under the terrifying weight of my words and the abso

heads one by one, shifting uncomforta

g quarters," I announced loudly, executing an absolute, public seizure of power. "Phoebe, take note. Starting tomorr

uthority!" Mrs. Warren

arbor any objections, you are welcome to file a formal appeal with the Imperial High Court. Out of meager respect for your past ser

lence. But under the heavy, altered gazes of the servants who were already bowing t

behind them, the bedchamber finall

ck of my gown soaked in a cold, nervous sweat. Controlling a room full of hostile

ipping a fresh cloth into the icy

sudden, microscopic movement in my

, his eyes seemed to shift-just a subtl

immediately lowered my head, brin

ionless, his pale features as still an

nation? A nervous musc

n, extending a delicate thread o

split second,

thin his submerged, slumbering soul, I felt a faint, distinct ripple of awareness...

complet

, locked in the dark-and he had he