When the last man left and the doors closed, Amara turned to approach her mother when another man appeared from the left side of the throne. She paused beside one of the stone columns, just out of sight, and frowned. What man had the privilege to approach her mother unannounced and unbidden?

“You don’t really believe Lord Maris took Lady Selene, do you?” the man asked, dark humor in his voice.

“No. It is she who led Lord Maris away from the castle through the underground tunnels. And she will pay for that.”

Amara’s body stilled. Selene betrayed their house? She blinked, hardly believing what her mother had said. Selene? The heir of Ravenwood? The one destined to bring their house to greatness?

Her mother continued to speak to the stranger, but Amara could not hear their words above the pounding of her own heart. What had possessed her sister to do such a thing? Not that she loved Selene, but never did she think her sister was capable of such duplicity—and to leave with House Maris of all families? What was Selene thinking?

To betray their mother . . .

A burning hope sprang up within her heart. Amara lifted her hand and stared down at her palm. With Selene gone, this could be her chance. Her gifting would arrive any day now, and when it did, she could become what her sister had thrown away.

“Amara, come here.”

Amara dropped her hand, her mother’s harsh voice quenching the heated hope inside. She stepped around the column. The man beside her mother was short, broad in the shoulders, and dressed in a dark robe with a cord around his waist, similar to the ones the disciples of the Dark Lady wore. His face was clean-shaven, and his eyes were as dark as his robes. She didn’t recognize him, but then again, she never paid much attention to those who worshiped the Dark Lady.

He glanced over at Amara and sneered.

A rush of heat spread across her body. It was as though he had appraised her and found her wanting. She curled her hands into fists and clenched her jaw. The man didn’t know her, nor did she know him. So what right did he have to look down upon her?

Lady Ragna turned back toward the man. “This is my second daughter, Amara.”

“Can she walk yet?”

Walk? Did he mean dreamwalk? Amara curled her lip as she made her way toward the throne. Whoever he was, he knew about their family gift.

“No, but she will soon.”

“Is she as powerful as the first one?”

Lady Ragna glanced at Amara. “She could be.” But there was doubt in her mother’s voice.

Amara steeled her jaw.

The man continued to study her. “That could be an issue.”

“We haven’t failed you yet.”

“What do you call the faithless actions of Lady Selene?”

“A gross miscalculation.”

“Commander Orion is counting on you—both you and Lord Friere. See that you don’t disappoint him. We have a renegade team scouting the lands. Last I heard, they were near the Hyr River border. Perhaps, if we are fortunate, they are still in the lands of House Maris and can take care of this little problem for us, since your men seem ill-equipped to do so.”