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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

“Daft bitch,” Vaskis sneers. “You think I brought you here for coins?”

He stands to leave and motions for Diglian to close the iron-barred door behind him. It clangs shut, and a lock clicks.

My heart sinks.

“Then what do you want?” I call. My dry throat aches like rough nails are being dragged down it each time I speak.

He pauses in the dim light of a single sconce; his form rests in the shadows.

“I want what everybody wants, Idalia. The world at my feet.”

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-One

Idalia

On day four of captivity, I can sit up. Barely.

Once a day, the guards leave what I assume is a bowl of pig feed, or rather, what the pigs refuse to eat, and a small glass of putrid water. On day six, they throw a rag, one already soiled in another prisoner’s sweat and blood, into the cell. I use some of my water to wash. My ribs are painted black and blue, and each breath is an excruciating chore. My only form of sanity is using a small, chalky rock to tally the days. I draw six lines.

Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Two

Idalia

Nine lines.

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Three

Idalia

Twenty-seven lines.

Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Four

Idalia

On day thirty, I stop drawing lines. The rock dissolves in my hand, and I’m too weak to search the corners for another. My ribs jut out from my chest, and I see that one has healed poorly. King Vaskis hasn’t returned to my cell. The only company I’m graced with is a black-hooded guard who leaves me my barely edible slop.

I am days away from death. I feel her draw near. Her cold, hissing shadows whisper to me at night.

I’m ready. I beg her to take me. How I long to be saved from this wretched life and be taken to the Lady, to rest behind her shield. I can run into my mother’s arms and only worry about which dress she’d have me wear.

I picture Braizen’s stunned face as he fought his guards for me, and I search for what the truth might be. Did he betray me as my mother accused? Did he mean to save me?

My head thuds. Death mumbles something to me again.

I wonder if Braizen still lives or if I shall meet him in the Great Lands where we can share our very first embrace.

Chapter Forty-Five

Chapter Forty-Five

Idalia

“Come get your food, scum,” the guard calls, only this time it’s a female who shoves the slop bowl under the bars. The bowl slides, frantically spinning on the stones as half its content spills over its rim. I huddle in one corner, knees drawn close to my chest, shaking profusely.