Something screeched, no more than a foot or two away, and the horse staggered before releasing a high-pitched whinny, almost a scream. She opened her eyes and saw… nothing. It was just as dark as when she’d closed them. Had she gone blind? She drew in a deep breath—and regretted it as cold air stormed…

The Next Day Aleck clung to her, his arms tight around her waist, his head resting against her. “Do you really have to leave?” Carissa feathered her fingers through his hair. “Yes, Aleck. And when I come back—” if she came back “—you’ll have to show me how fast you can do the obstacle course.”…

A chill cloaked Carissa’s skin at Elon’s words. “I think… I think you have this handled, Elon.” Akasha, she could quite easily kill, but Tervalyn? When she was sitting in her bed, not even defending herself? Elon shook his head. “This is for you to do, Carissa.” He extended her dagger towards her. Carissa took…

Carissa closed her eyes, muting the fiercely bright light. Even so, it glowed orange against her lids, making pain shoot to the back of her skull. And then it was gone. Carissa opened her eyes and squinted against the relative darkness. Everything was silent. “Elon?” Someone sniffled. Judging from the high, soft pitch of the…

As requested, the room was dark, the velvet curtains drawn. Candlelight danced against the walls, shadows slithering just out of its reach. Carissa drummed her fingers against the arm of her chair, the tapping the only sound within the room. Beyond, there was the muffled sound of bustling servants. Elon stood behind her, his hip…

Five Days Later Carissa brushed her fingers against the rosebushes as they walked by, feeling the oncoming darkness like a physical pressure bearing down on her shoulders. She and Elon had only bonded once, Aleck had yet to appear, and she was to leave for Esmeray on the morrow. “What was it like?” Cylia skipped…

Quint began to drag her by her hair, towards a corner of the cell. She bit her lip as agony ripped across her skull. A bucket sat next to the wall, half filled with scummy water. A memory flickered in her mind—Akar dunking her head in the trough. She remembered to gasp before Quint plunged…

Carissa ran, the Soul Pieces clamped in her fist, her breath thick in her throat. This meant Elon knew who the Reaper was—and he hadn’t told her. But why? Why would he protect the identity of a Reaper who deserved death? Was this some sort of mercy on his part? The gates clanked, then squeaked….

A few unladylike curses echoed through the garden—and two of them yelped. “Fern, you idiot!” “I didn’t touch the gate!” she squeaked. “Ladies, ladies. As you can see, the latch hasn’t fallen back down; the gate isn’t locked. It was likely just the wind.” But even Wylma’s voice wavered with uncertainty. A smile curved against…