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Contents ( 56)
  1. Cover
  2. Half Title Page
  3. Books by Morgan L. Busse
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Dedication
  7. Contents
  8. The Dominia Empire (Map)
  9. Character List
  10. 1
  11. 2
  12. 3
  13. 4
  14. 5
  15. 6
  16. 7
  17. 8
  18. 9
  19. 10
  20. 11
  21. 12
  22. 13
  23. 14
  24. 15
  25. 16
  26. 17
  27. 18
  28. 19
  29. 20
  30. 21
  31. 22
  32. 23
  33. 24
  34. 25
  35. 26
  36. 27
  37. 28
  38. 29
  39. 30
  40. 31
  41. 32
  42. 33
  43. 34
  44. 35
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. 38
  48. 39
  49. 40
  50. 41
  51. 42
  52. 43
  53. 44
  54. About the Author
  55. Back Ads
  56. Back Cover

Grand Lord Warin had passed away at dawn.

35

That morning, the banners of House Luceras were brought down and replaced with black standards. Inside the castle, everything was draped in black, from the paintings to the sculptures and statues.

There was a somberness that hung over the castle, similar to the mourning cloth that draped the furniture. Words were spoken in hushed whispers. Tears were shed behind closed doors. The bright sunlight that shone down on Lux Casta seemed irreverent toward House Luceras and their grief.

Selene stood beside the long windows in her bedchambers and watched everything from her vantage point. She never knew Lord Warin and did not feel the same pull of grief everyone else did. Damien, however, appeared mournful, so she let him have his space in the common room.

She sighed and walked back toward the bed. The talks had been canceled for the time being, understandably so. It was unfortunate that Lord Warin had passed on, but the Dominia Empire would not wait. Alliances needed to be officially formed and the nations ready or all would be lost. Selene knew that when news of Lord Warin’s death reached her mother, she would not hesitate to use the confusion to her advantage.

She held a hand to her head as a pulsing ache started to form along her forehead. She hadn’t dreamed since the night Damien interceded for her, and it was starting to take a toll on her body. The need to dream was almost as vital to her as sleep itself, and yet she had closed off that part of herself as best as she could. But soon, the dreams would come back, like a dam breaking loose. And she had a feeling that when the dreams came, so would the Dark Lady.

The day moved by slowly. Selene stayed to her room as much as possible so as not to intrude on the sorrow of others. Tomorrow was the public memorial and viewing of Lord Warin. Sometime after that, the talks would begin, but who knew when that would actually start?

Dinner came and went, a private affair within their room, with quiet conversation between Damien and their small party. The light was gone from Damien’s eyes again.

Was he feeling Lord Warin’s death just as intensely as he did his own family’s death? After all, their families had been close, and he had experienced the death of his own father only two years ago. He probably understood what the Luceras siblings were going through, while she still felt like a stranger to their grief.

Selene shook her head as she pulled on her nightgown.

Damien came in a minute later.

She finished brushing her hair, then placed the brush on the table. “How is the Luceras family doing?” she asked as she glanced over her shoulder.

Damien finished changing before he responded. “They’re grieving. Lord Warin had been sick for a while, but I don’t think anyone expected him to pass this soon.”