LOGINLucien's POV Alice glared at me. "I am going to become Evander's second wife one day," she said. "I still need Princess Liora's help to make that happen."I looked at her for a moment, sure I had misheard."Say that again.""You heard me," she shrugged, and there was a confiden
Lucien's POV The answer was yes. I understood completely. I had understood completely for longer than I wanted to admit, and understanding had not been enough to make me do the right thing at the right moment. That was the torment of being the kind of man I was. Clear enough to see the damage. Not strong enough, at the crucial moments, to stop causing it.I picked up the IOU from the desk one more time and looked at Astrid's signature then I went to her room.
Lucien's POV I had been staring at the same report for twenty minutes without reading a single word of it.That was where I was when the knock came. Sitting behind my desk in a study that had not felt like mine for longer than I could honestly account for, pretending to work, pretending the house around me was not in the state it was in."Come in," I said.
Ravena's POV When the gate was closing, I heard the scrape of something on the ground half a second before I realized what it was.Suddenly Celeste was in front of me.She had moved without thinking and threw herself sideways before the rock had even left Astrid's hand. And the rock hit her square across the cheekbone with a sound that turned my stomach. She let out a short, sharp sound and staggered, her hand flying to her face."Seize her," I immediately ordered, and my voice came out in a register I didn't entirely recognize. The kind of voice that doesn't need to be raised to be obeyed. "Bring her inside. Now."The guards moved before I even finished speaking.Astrid had not run. She was still standing in the road, her arm extended from the throw, her expression shifting through several things very quickly. Boldness first. Then the realization of what she had just done. Then, as the guards reached her and she felt their grip close around her arms and understood that I was not sen
Ravena's POV "You did not care enough to find out," I spat. "That is the same thing."I let that sit for a moment before I crouched down in front of her so we were at the same level, and I looked her directly in the face."And on top of everything," I whispered, "you let your jealousy consume you. For years. Constantly targeting me. Constantly pushing at me over Lucien, as though that man was the center of everythi
Ravena's POV Astrid opened her mouth to argue, but I didn't let her.My hand suddenly connected with her shoulder and I shoved her hard. She went down to the floor with a sharp sound that rang through the receiving room like a statement.The maidservants standing by the walls froze in place.
Ravena's POV"Just the battle," I said quietly. "Just everything."Mira reached over and squeezed my hand. "We will get through this. We always do."I nodded, but Mira's words had already stirred a dark and painful memory that I had been trying to suppress.The memory hit me like a fist to the ches
Ravena's POVThe platform creaked under my boots as I made my way to the center. Around us, the crowd was growing. Warriors stopped mid-swing. Others dropped what they were doing and turned to watch.Whispers filled the air, and I could sense the intensity of their gazes."She will not last three
Ravena's POVAstrid rolled her eyes, but her lips stayed sealed. She looked away like his words meant nothing, like she was above answering to anyone. But I noticed the slight quiver in her jaw and the way her fingers clenched into fists against the dirt.Evander straightened slowly, his gaze cutti
Ravena's POVEvander's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Time for what, Orren? Speak clearly."Orren stepped forward, his boots scraping on the ground. He reached into his vest and pulled out a rolled piece of parchment, holding it out with both hands like it might explode. "The rogue army is on the move







