Chapter 1

"A disgrace to this house!" my father snarled. "I raised a daughter without honor."

"Father!" I caught at his sleeve. "I didn't do it. I swear I didn't. Please believe me."

He tore himself free, turned toward Crown Prince Cedric and the king, and dropped to his knees. "My household failed in discipline and produced this shame. I accept whatever punishment the Crown commands."

Crown Prince Cedric looked at me once, his expression cool with displeasure.

"Elowen Fairfax has deceived the court and disgraced the selection. Remove her from the hall at once."

"Your Highness!" I cried. "I'm innocent. Those letters are forged. I don't even know that scholar."

No one listened.

A quarter hour earlier, Cedric had appeared pleased with me and named me a junior consort of his future household.

I had thought that appointment might finally lift me above the rank I had been born into. I never imagined Rosamund, my own elder half sister, would destroy me like this.

With only a few carefully chosen words, she had placed her own secret correspondence with the scholar in my hands and made the scandal mine.

Two royal guards seized my arms and dragged me from the chamber.

In the end, I was thrown beyond the palace gates.

The square outside was crowded with people who had come to watch the noble bridal selection. They pointed the moment they saw me.

"That's her? Pretty face. Rotten character."

"I heard she was caught trying to run away with some starving scholar."

"House Fairfax will never live this down."

My legs felt filled with lead as I made my way back to Fairfax Hall.

What waited for me was a pair of locked crimson doors.

My hand shook as I struck the iron knocker. "Open the door. Let me in."

A side entrance creaked open, and Bram, the steward, looked at me without warmth.

"Miss Elowen, stop knocking. Lord Fairfax has ordered that the house no longer recognizes you. Your name has been struck from the family rolls."

"What?" My knees gave way and I sank onto the steps.

Then a rough, damp hand clamped around my wrist.

"Heh. Come on, Elowen. Time to go home with your new man."

I turned in horror. It was Corbin Ash, the same penniless scholar who had disrupted the bridal selection.

He looked me over with open hunger.

"Let go of me. What are you doing?" I fought to pull away.

Corbin laughed and waved a deed in front of my face. "Your family decided you were too much trouble. They transferred you to me before sunset. Ten silver marks, and now you belong to me. Be sensible and come home."

"No. I'm not going anywhere with you. Let me go." I bit down on his hand as hard as I could.

He shouted, struck me across the face, and knocked me into the mud.

Cursing, he reached for a cord at his belt to bind my wrists.

At that moment, the main doors of Fairfax Hall opened again.

Rosamund stood high on the steps, looking down at me.

"This is what happens when you reach for the Crown Princess's place."

She descended slowly and stopped in front of me. "Did you really think a pretty face and one royal appointment could overturn everything? You're the daughter of Father's household consort. What right did you have to compete with me?"

Then she turned and walked back through the gates.

"Move." Corbin grabbed my hair and dragged me toward the dark lane beside the house.

Blood from my forehead ran into my mouth, and the metallic taste ignited something fierce inside me.

I would not die face down in the filth. Not like this.

Under cover of darkness, I tore the long pin from my hair and drove it into his neck with everything I had.

He screamed and collapsed, clutching the wound.

I scrambled to my feet and ran for the city gates without looking back.

I did not know how long I kept moving. Eventually my legs stopped obeying me and I fell.

As consciousness faded, I sensed someone approaching.

A low, cold voice spoke above me. "Interesting. Take her with us."