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"Elara killed her," Cal says from the doorway to his bedchamber He adjusts the cape draped over one shoulder, clasped in silver and glinting chips of black gemstones In his other hand, he holds a black crown, half hidden like an afterthought A sword hangs from the belt at his waist, tucked into a sheath jeweled in ruby and jet It’s for fashion at best No one would choose a sword to fight "She drove my mother deeper into her sorrohispered in her head until she had no other escape I know that now"

His lips curve doard, frowning, while his eyes go far away In his sadness, I see a bit of his mother The only resemblance I can draeen the two of them

"I wish I could have known her" I say

"So do I"

We leave Cal’s roorander, ht, I brushed off any worry of gossip, feeling brazen and bold The discomfort catches up to me noonder if we’ll enter to a rash of ment fro? Will she turn her back entirely?

I can’t stand the thought

Cal senses ers brush the inside of my arm, careful to stay away from the sensitive points of ether," hecloser and closer to the point of no return

"It doesn’t uards await Merandmother’s blood They stand unerous and silent

Anabel stands with the jewels: rubies and yellow citrine She proudly wears her rose-gold crown, the siray hair Her eyes land onCal into a quick e," he replies "Is everyone ready?"

"They should be," she says, waving a wrinkled hand "But I assume we’ll have to wait for the Rift princess to don every piece of et her hands on Remind me to make sure she hasn’t stolen the doorknobs"

All nerves, Cal doesn’t smile, but a corner of his mouth lifts "I’m sure we can spare them," he says

"You look well, Miss Barrow," Anabel adds, her eyes flicking to mine

I don’t feel it, I think to myself "As well as can be expected, for the circumstance" I’m careful not to use any kind of title, but she doesn’t seees, softening, IToShe draws a slow breath "Ready or not," shearound, "here we corand stairs is vast, feeding into various ballrooms and the throne room of Ocean Hill, as well as the banquet hall and a smaller, less official version of the council cha court of Silvers, and house thethe rooreen of Montfort uniforms contrasts harshly with the whitefro the his position as the rightful king, and conqueror of nearly half of Norta