a P

flinch, her shock quic

her more than my

ugly blotches of red bloo

t, you freak!" Isis spat,

red, crossing her arms. "It's pathetic, really. Let

er voice dropping

didn't even survive the winter! You're just going there to w

k to my vanity, I casually brushed a speck of dus

s invisible snapped Isis'

Are you deaf?" Isis sh

of the box and tu

re you? Just a pampered parasite. Without my dead mother's gold buying

screamed, ra

ll this shouting?" a voice

ore the practiced frown of a fair-minded matron, t

e-to-be, after all. You should at lea

anners for what? A merchant's daughter is still lowborn, even if

her daughters burst i

out batting an eye, then

their laughter short, "then Isis should take my place. I'm sure Lord Carlisle would love a

ter died

I refused to board that carriage, either her precious Isis would take my pla

ed Isis and Livia by their arms, for

ng at me. "Why waste your breath

via dug the

off way too easy," Livia whined a

ched the

ded. "Did I say

ant fury. "We were willing to let you off the

their eyes could track, I closed the distance and l

into the air, my amber eyes locking onto th

ing against Vespera's fragile neck before I stepp

sis and Livia shudder, though their st

--and knowing I wasn't bluffing about the carriage--her terror for her

g on her own daughters. "Isis, L

s gasped in sh

era screamed, her fa

e two pampered sisters ra

p.

e attic. They weren't crying; they were glaring at me wit

ound out, her face bur

and gave a small, dismissiv

m like beaten dogs, pulling t

ened. With my newly awakened hearing, every

hurts so much!" L

re venom in her whisper. "Let the little b

!" Isis cried angrily. "Sh

pped from Vespera's lips, chi

ire Castle. Everything has been arranged. The moment that lowborn little b

snickering faded dow