LOGINThe corridor was a ribbon of shadow and torchlight. Elara pressed her back to the cold stone and let her knees fold beneath her until she sat on the floor. Her hand went to her mouth, feeling the wet sting of blood on her lips; when she pulled her fingers away they were smeared dark. She did not flinch at the sight. The shock had not worn off, but a numbness had settled over her like a cloak.Footsteps hurried down the passage — not the slow, measured tread of guards but quick, worried, feminine steps. A breath of cloth brushed past her as a hand caught her wrist; Camilla’s voice cut through the fog.“My lady!” Camilla dropped to her knees, eyes wide as they took in Elara’s pallor and the smear of blood at her mouth. “By the saints, what is this? Who—?”“Elara.” Two more shapes appeared behind Camilla: Phillipa, steady and square-shouldered, and Winnie, small-faced and quick-eyed. Together they made a small barrier against the corridor, a private island of care in the w
The night air in the Grand Duke’s manor was heavy, and the torches burned low in their sconces, casting long shadows down the marble halls. Lord Sawyer’s boots echoed sharply against the stone as he strode with coiled fury. His jaw was clenched tight, his hands twitching at his sides as if itching to strike. A trembling guard followed at a careful distance. “M-My lord,” he stammered, keeping his eyes fixed on the floor, “it has been two days. The lady has refused all sustenance. Not a morsel has passed her lips.” Sawyer halted so abruptly the guard nearly collided with him. He turned, his dark eyes narrowing with cold fire. “And you thought to inform me now?” His voice was dangerously quiet, more terrifying than a shout. The guard dropped to one knee instantly, bowing his head low. “Forgive me, my lord. We… we thought she might relent of her own will. We dared not anger you with news of her stubbornness.” Sawyer’s lips curled in a bitter sneer. “Elara thinks to play games w
The chamber was silent save for the ragged rhythm of Elara’s breathing. Curled on the cold stone floor, her fiery auburn hair splayed about her like a fallen flame, she looked more a shadow of a girl than the vibrant young woman who once rode through meadows laughing, cheeks flushed with sun. Her skin, pale as moonlight, was streaked with the remnants of tears, her lashes clumped from the salt of weeping.She had not eaten in two days.A silver tray was pushed into Augustine’s hands at the door. The governess hesitated, staring at the simple meal — a loaf of soft bread, a wedge of cheese, and a thin stew that still steamed faintly. Too fine for prisoners. Too meager for a Duke’s daughter.But Elara was no guest. She was a bride-in-waiting, caged until her wedding day.“Be quick, woman,” one of the guards grunted. His chainmail rattled as he shifted, spear angled casually toward her as though she were just as much a prisoner as the girl inside. “Set it down and leave. You know the orde
The little room smelled of damp wood and old straw, but to Elara it was a palace compared to Lord Sawyer’s keep or the cold grandeur of her father’s manor. She lay nestled against Ryker, his warmth a shield against the chill that clung to the air. His arm curled protectively around her waist, palm resting lightly on her stomach as though even in sleep he could not release her.Elara tilted her head and watched him in the half-light of the guttering candle. His violet eyes were closed, his lashes resting dark against his cheeks, his brow softened in rare peace. Even his breathing, steady and deep, filled her with calm. For the first time in days, perhaps in years, she felt safe.Her auburn hair spilled across his chest, strands catching the faint glow of the flame, fiery in its dance. His calloused hand moved unconsciously against her side, a subtle stroke that drew her closer. She closed her eyes and let her body sink into his, heart steadying in rhythm with his.“Ryker,” she whispere
Hours seemed to pass before the trees began to thin, giving way to fields slick with rain. In the distance, faint lights flickered—a small town nestled at the bend of a river, its roofs glistening beneath the storm.Elara’s heart leapt. “Shelter…”Ryker’s grip on her hand tightened. “If we are careful. Inns breed questions. But we have no choice.” His eyes darted across the fields, ever wary. “Come. Stay close.”They crossed the muddy flats, the rain masking their movements, until at last they reached the outskirts of the town. Lanterns swung outside shuttered homes, their glow blurred by the downpour. The streets were near-empty, save for a lone cart rattling through the muck and a dog that slunk beneath an awning.At the center stood a modest inn, its sign creaking on rusted chains. A warm light glowed from within, and the smell of wood smoke drifted through the rain.Elara shivered, her teeth chattering. “Please, Ryker…”He nodded quickly. “A night’s rest. One night
The manor’s banners whipped in the gathering wind, the trumpets still echoing faintly down the valley. Villagers of Kareth clustered in the square, whispers darting from mouth to mouth like startled birds. They watched as Lord Sawyer, perched upon his black destrier, reined in sharply before the cluster of cottages. His face was hard, his lips pressed into a cruel line.The Duke’s sanction had filled him with new authority, and his hunger for Elara made his patience razor-thin. He scanned the crowd with venom in his eyes.“Bring forth the old man,” Sawyer barked. “The one called Rae.”Gasps stirred the crowd. Heads turned. From the edge of the assembly, a figure stepped forward, his back bent slightly with age, but his bearing steady as an oak. Rae’s gray hair caught the dim sun, his weathered hands gripping the simple walking stick he had carried for years.Sawyer’s eyes narrowed. “So. The father of the traitor.”Rae stopped a few paces before the Lord’s horse, looking up at him with







