of the year of t

ia, Vo

her maid brushed her pin-straight hair, dark as the eventide that flowed

cially betrothed to the imperial prince and in the tenth month of the year, be formally e

n end. From the day she was born, her dear father and mother saw grea

assing the understanding of her Nebulosi teachers to t

r her brother possesse

g, Chief Topher, her father, had no other option than to ask the emperor to send Nebulosi teachers who were spell masters and adv

swordsmanship, horseback riding, and politic

er that the Nebulosi spell m

re the use of spells to chann

nant forms of magic that sometimes lef

tors could not do. To take back the kingdoms and rule the entire co

lia praised as she added a gold head ornam

ed proudly as she gazed

ows that resembled a raptor in flight and full, inviting lips that had been painted a ch

rdrobe to fetch Nerina's outfit for the ban

leeves, cut in a V that exposed her cleavage, made her pale sk

a pool of blood. Delia placed a pure gold necklace with a pendant bearing

Delia through the mirror. "Have you gott

a had forgotten all about it, but she had been foolish

new that would be an unwise decision because Nerin

d, at a loss for word

heart-aching grace to face Delia, causing her to take a step

chin with her long fingers, angling the sho

ossed her face but was quickly re

ng down her round cheeks. "I forgot about it, but I swear, once we return to the winter isles, I will set abou

sharp, and Delia quickly obeyed, tho

ut she decided to play along and see j

rs with you, but the next time you conveniently forget about

we reach Sejukgheim. Do you understand?" Nerina s

pered, her body shaking li

hat I wish to see him immediately," She or

hat had been assigned to the Lolo by

he had already gotten the information that the Lolo req

a, she was fiercely loyal to the imperial prince after he had put himself in danger to

him of the plots against him, his tribe and

out a way to either somehow thwart the schemes of Nerina or inform the prince of which both options would resul

," Chief Topher, a tall said in admiration as

te observation," Nerina replied,

astically as he sat on a chair and observed the luxuri

ommodations are

fiddling with the huge, silver r

and now, it is finally happening, but there is one thing

Topher asked, tiltin

he began to pace back an

perial prince refuses to be wed to me? Would

r smiled co

st his father, not after what happened when he tried such a foolish thing before. We n

ed Nerina's racing thoughts

have planned, Father. Soon, we will

ed a mali

are at the man she was supposed to marry,

ly schooled her expression into one of obeisance, affection,

hange in Nerina's countenance but it was so q

r and lower levels led the crowd out the main doors and to the great hall for the proper celebrations, wi

who stiffened at her touch but made no

and receptive to the woma

but as he made no move to free himself, she smiled slyly and

going accor