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Chapters (55)
  1. Title Page
  2. Dedication
  3. World Map
  4. Pronunciations
  5. Author’s Notes
  6. Table of Contents
  7. A Forbidden Fate
  8. Prologue
  9. Chapter One
  10. Chapter Two
  11. Chapter Three
  12. Chapter Four
  13. Chapter Five
  14. Chapter Six
  15. Chapter Seven
  16. Chapter Eight
  17. Chapter Nine
  18. Chapter Ten
  19. Chapter Eleven
  20. Chapter Twelve
  21. Chapter Thirteen
  22. Chapter Fourteen
  23. Chapter Fifteen
  24. Chapter Sixteen
  25. Chapter Seventeen
  26. Chapter Eighteen
  27. Chapter Nineteen
  28. Chapter Twenty
  29. Chapter Twenty-One
  30. Chapter Twenty-Two
  31. Chapter Twenty-Three
  32. Chapter Twenty-Four
  33. Chapter Twenty-Five
  34. Chapter Twenty-Six
  35. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  36. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  37. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  38. Chapter Thirty
  39. Chapter Thirty-One
  40. Chapter Thirty-Two
  41. Chapter Thirty-Three
  42. Chapter Thirty-Four
  43. Chapter Thirty-Five
  44. Chapter Thirty-Six
  45. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  46. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  47. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  48. Chapter Forty
  49. Chapter Forty-One
  50. Chapter Forty-Two
  51. Chapter Forty-Three
  52. Chapter Forty-Four
  53. Chapter Forty-Five
  54. Acknowledgements
  55. About the Author

Theodore jolts up on the mattress, steadying her hands on my shoulders to stare at my victory. The rusty hasp creaks as I gently test it, then face the Aeradian Princess. “The pleasure is all yours,” I say gallantly and motion to the safe.

She kisses my cheek, gives a small squeal, then takes a deep breath. She pulls the door fully open, and we gaze in. An ancient, wrinkled volume rests amid the dust swirls that arose when she opened the door. Some of its fragile, disheveled pages slip away from their binding as she lifts the book. Carefully she brings it to her nose and takes a few sharp breaths. “Can you smell that?”

“Dirt?” I ask, jumping to the floor.

“Knowledge,” she muses with a childlike grin. “There’s so much for you to teach me,” she whispers and then sinks onto the bed. With another deep inhale, she opens the book to the first page.

I cross my arms and smile. “Well, if that’s all you need from me, I’ll get going. Don’t forget to send the guards. Let me know when Idalia is back, would you?”

“Oh, Braizen! Wait!” She stretches an arm towards me. “Didn’t I tell you I’d give you a favor in return?”

“I thought sending the guards for Idalia was the favor. If not that, then you know,” I tease as I wave my hands vaguely across my chest, “walking in on you could also count.”

“Men are truly disgusting,” she sighs, scrunching her nose. “But no, the guards are not your favor. I want Idalia safe, too. Sending them is more for her sake than yours. And as for the view,” she mimics my hand waving, “consider that a blessing from the gods.”

I laugh and nod in approval.

“My favor is far more consequential to you,” she says hesitantly.

“What is it? Are you going to make Stig’s voice bearable?”

Her face is serious as she leans forward and drills her eyes into mine.

“I think I know a way you and Idalia can break the curse.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Five

Idalia

“I’ll have you know, in Verdana, forcing a Princess to stop drinking is considered punishable by death! How else are we to keep warm in the snow?” I squirm between the two Aeradian guards’ grasp as they drag me into the castle’s guest wing. I glimpse Stig, who’s carrying an Aeradian quiver. When he sees me, his eyes light up, but he continues to sprint down the corridor. “Who in the hells is letting him stay here?” I demand of the guards. “You know that stranger swindled one of your farmers out of his horses! Yet, he gets better treatment than I do!” I humph as they toss me into my room.