Chapters (48)
- Praise
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Acknowledgements
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- About the Author
Maybe being able to sense the Invisible Ring depended on whether a man wore a Jewel lighter or darker than the Gray, since Grizelle had probably created it. He still couldn’t sense it, but Daemon had been able to tell which kind he wore. And Daemon wouldn’t lie to him. Not about something like that.
He wore the Invisible Ring. He wore the Silver.
Whatever that meant.
EIGHTEEN
EIGHTEEN
Krelis stared at the male organs neatly arranged on a thick pad of blood-soaked cloth. There were wounds on all of them, which meant the agony had begun long before the barber had used the knife.
His vision grayed. He swallowed hard against the sickness clogging his throat.
Gliding behind him, Dorothea brushed the back of his neck with the tip of a large, white feather, and purred, “Recognize anyone?”
Krelis squeezed his eyes shut. Sweet Darkness, he hoped those things had belonged to landens or slaves. Something expendable. Something that required no thoughts, no feelings.
“I want you to choose five guards, men you value,” Dorothea said. “I understand one of your cousins recently became one of my guards.”
Krelis took a few steps away from the table. “Yes, Priestess. A distant cousin from the distaff side of the family.”
“He’ll be one of the five.”
“For a special assignment?” Krelis asked. His cousin was only Sixth Circle. Being noticed so quickly would please the family.
“In a manner of speaking. You’ll also include the young guard you’ve been personally training as well.”
“As you wish, Priestess.” Krelis narrowed his eyes, trying to remember who was immediately available in the First Circle who could balance the two less-experienced men. “What will be required of them?”
“Very little.” Dorothea brushed her chin with the white feather and smiled malevolently. “You’ve been something of a disappointment, Lord Krelis. Difficulties with the Gray Lady were one thing. But having this little bitch elude you . . .” She shook her head. “It troubles me. It makes me wonder if your loyalty is as strong as it should be. It makes me wonder if I made an error in my choice of Master of the Guard.”
Krelis felt light-headed. “Priestess . . .”
“So I’ve decided to give you a bit more incentive.”
As she moved toward him, Krelis wondered how he’d ever mistaken that predatory walk for something enticing, inviting.