ORIA

t was already unbearable, and my legs trembled as I stared at the glowing embers. With the blac

three to start walking," King

. My bare feet were already injured from being dragged through the Blood Moon

Tw

he glowing coals. The heat against my skin made me instinctively

hre

foot onto the

AH

tely tried to pull it away, but the King's warning echoed through my mind. If

. Every step felt as though my skin was being torn apart. Tears streamed

sperately toward King Lennox.

ing," he or

ign of changing his mind. The council members stood behind h

es buckled, and I nearly fell forward into the trench. I quickly stretched out

h! Pl

along the courtyard were watching my every movement. I kne

anymore. The black choker remained tight around my ne

. It was still several feet away, and

e I was, crying helplessly as

ce suddenly flashe

tanding beside her, doing absolutely nothing to defend me. If I died here, Vanessa would get everything she wanted. She wou

lready suffered so much because of Vanessa and Adrian, and there was no way I was going to let them win by dying here. I

I forced myself to

Ah

, and every step sent another wave of agony through my legs. I could bare

little

tely to remain standing. My breathing became heavier,

d the last stretch

ft and forced myself forward, stumbling

d mad

my knees. I was alive. Somehow, despite everythi

e. I fell onto my side, gasping for air as I struggled to move. My feet were bad

d footsteps

ding out against the darkness of the courtyard. He stopped directly in front of me and looked d

ing. Then he crouched and grabbed

rviving," he said coldly. "Soon, yo

eak. He released my chin and rose to

r Maj

forward, accompanied by two oth

an!" he protested. "She murdered our Queen and her un

nox stopp

are countless noblewomen in the kingdom who would be honored to bear yo

lowly tur

you fi

mbers immediate

oldly. "She survived. That i

Your Ma

nd you will join h

owered his head, and King Lennox turn

she doesn't die. I have n

me one last time, his

your living h