LOGIN"Because it's true.” Her gaze slid lazily toward Maren. "You should have joined them. But of course, you had someone playing hero."Maren stiffened.The Chamberlain cleared his throat, reminding us that he was there."Enough."The single word silenced us.He looked toward Maren and me."You are inde
Lyra’s POV"Lyra, stop fussing over me." Maren laughed softly as she caught my wrist before I could place another cool cloth against her forehead. "I'm fine.""You nearly burned alive," I reminded her."And yet..." She spread her arms with a grin. "Here I am."I sighed, finally giving in and setting
……. End Flashback. “Sire, are you alright? You’ve spaced out?” Hugh said, bringing me back to the present moment. I blinked; my eyes burning from the memory. Hugh stood at the doorway with a frown marring his lips. “Just spaced out,” I murmured, running my hands up my face. “How many more a
Zarek’s POV Flashback Pain erupted in my small body; I trembled where I lay. I was naked and bruised all over. My mouth was filled with blood, though it wasn’t my own. Or maybe it was… I couldn’t even tell. I lifted my head, trying to get a grasp of where I was, but I couldn’t see anything beyo
Suddenly, screaming pierced through the King’s chambers, echoing down the corridor and making me cover my ears for the briefest moment. Realization slammed into me all at once that the screaming was coming from Maren. I didn’t think… I just ran. “Lyra,” I heard the chamberlain calling after me.
Lyra’s POV “So, what was it really like?” Maren asked once the others had finally backed off and given me some space. “And don’t give me the same generic answer you gave everyone else. Be honest.” The corner of my lips lifted; when the others asked me how it was, I had told them that it was easie
Lyra For one long second, no one in the dormitory moved. Then Elin made a small sound at the back of her throat. "What."The chamberlain did not stand up."There has been a mistake," I said. "He cannot be asking for me.""He is asking for you, Tribute Walker."He straightened, then, and turned, and
Lyra The chamberlain led us out of the chamber in single file. The stone in the corridor was cool under my feet, and my dress still clung damply to my back.He stopped at the foot of a wide staircase and counted us with a slow finger.Eleven. Less than half of what had walked into the chamber that
Lyra The lock clicked behind me, and the pretending stopped.I don't remember how I got to the bed. The bed was something I was just suddenly on — sitting at first, then sliding sideways until my back was against the frame and my cheek against the cool wood. The blood on my knee had dried into a ha
Lyra "Lyra Walker."The herald's voice cut across the square like a blade, and my own name turned my legs to water. He was reading from a long roll of parchment. The tribute list. The names of the girls the Dragon King would take this year.I knew what that list meant. Every five years, the Dragon







