a P

ated as its name suggested, but it coul

hrough the silence. It wasn't the sound of a man. It was the

. My awakened senses locked onto the feverish flare of volatile draconic energy ridi

oak doors of Gideon's bedroom

ur-poster bed, his entire body rig

er mask lay discarded on the nightstand, exposing the jagged dark scars

eming--was barking useless orders at two frantic assistants while

ling spells flowing!" Fleming s

u're doing immediately," I commanded, stepping fully into th

did you get in here? You are the dragonless Beaumont bri

" I said, my voice ringing with icy

aren't healing him. You are driving the toxin deepe

irl! I have studied under the greatest m

hin a year if you keep touc

en to lock onto me. The feral, warning glint in his gaze would hav

uncrushed Ashroot, and a lit candle," I

their loyalty to Fleming entirely, and

leming protested, looking at Gideon. "Sh

me. Beneath the haze of pain, his sharp, calcu

d out, his voice hoarse. He gave

wiped away Fleming's useless blue paste and slit Gide

in was heavily scarred and crisscrossed with terrifying black veins. The Dra

tips through the bitter sap of the Ashroot. Taking a deep breath, I

driving the needles deep into forgotten dracon

eked. "Those are lethal nerve c

learn," I

s flesh, the violent spasms rack

od began to ooze out, sizzling slightly as it hit the ai

d from his muscles. He fell back against the pillows, brea

ears, the agonizing fir

e assistants whispered, s

aling crumbling to dust. What a dozen grandmasters had failed to do for

is voice was no longer a weak rasp, but

rd--" Flemi

t o

ambled out of the room, shutti

, watching me deftly pluck the silver needles free a

the bed. He planted his bare feet on the stone

bedpost for support, but he was standing. He took two halting steps

his golden eyes. The mockery was gone

said softly, a bitter smile touching his lips. "A

," I replied coolly, pack

e intense. "How long until I

of continuous, painful treatments to fully purge it from your

ze. "The capital still celebrates my demise.

eep celebrating,

assassins and more poison. But if you remain the crippled lord in the wheelchair, the

ring in his eyes. His mouth curved into a

he agreed, his voice a low purr.

ked in silent

val, we weren't just Lord and pr

to walk in the small, walled garden near my wing, crouching to exam

bride?" a soft, sugary voi

wn, her face framed by strawberry-blonde curls and w

ll. But my newly awakened sen

ess: embroidered in silver thread along her cuffs was a

ant claim to the title

m Audrey Burns. It's a pleasu