ill bleeding when th

usy clutching his chest as if his heart were trying to escape his ribs. But I saw the blood. I saw the way it dripped from the gash on his

s this warning. He had probably killed his

derstood what kind

s the fir

d the chaos, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

len

need to be. The throne room fell

his throne, his physicians crowding around him wit

d. Maybe more. He has been building his forces for years, recruiting mer

any men do

ilence was a

loyal soldiers in the capital. The rest are either dea

his voice sharp despite his frailty. "What I n

eyes, I saw a calculation. A weighing of options. He was not a

a piece on

she can raise an army of her own. The islanders are fierce fighters. They have

ened. "You want me

rs," Dorian said. "And in return, she will

e. "Will you do this? Will you claim your mother's king

d have

his war that was not mine. I should have taken the annulment scroll and

dared to fight back. I thought of the five years I had spent in Alaric's castle, a prisoner in

y Alaric had smiled whe

me broken. He wanted me to su

give him the

ern Isles. I will raise an army. And I will des

relief. He held out the scro

was heavy, impressed with the royal crest. I hel

nika the traitor. You are Danika, Queen of the Northern

of Rav

an, my eyes narr

ride. That makes you my duchess. Did you think I would l

re usi

ing me. That is what alliances are, my

to kiss him. I wanted to run fr

egin. Alaric's army will not wait

ed in a small chamber

ders and daggers. Generals argued over troop placements. Spies reported on Alaric's mov

es on the maps, his voice carrying the weight of authority. The generals listened. The Ki

e. He was a leader. A

was hi

made my st

ecause he needed me. He had claimed me as his duchess, but only to secure his own

st anoth

noticed something. Som

h a hatred that went far beyond political ambition. And when he spoke of the

kingdom. He had a history with Ala

ended to

d be gathered. Allies would be contacted. But it

not hav

not hav

s already

me to my chamb

ds doubled on every wall. Everyone knew what was coming. Everyone kne

afraid. I should

lt was a col

did not look at me. He stared at the wall, hi

should know," he said.

ized. "What

you enough to bind you to him, but not enough

uld he

nd in his eyes, I saw somethin

t a leash. It is a beacon. When it blooms inside you, it will call to him. And no matter

, to the place where the pois

"But the only person who can rem

ar

o him. I would have to face him, alon

made me wa

, as if reading my mind. "But it is

at

line of my jaw. His touch was warm, gentle, nothing like t

eone who shares your blood. Someone who carries the same

, my throat too

ur veins. It has been sleeping, but it

then

aw something I had not expected. So

u will be able to protect yourself. But the power may consume yo

y heart pounding.

o his castle. And he will spend the rest of your li

stepped back, his expres

, my lady. But you m

trapped me in the same breath, at this stranger

ade my