Extraits

There are enemies, and there are monsters. Always slay the monsters first, because enemies may one day become allies--but monsters never will.

« Cezan laughed. “Will you make her repay your mother’s screams? Will you do to my sister all that we did to your queen?” His vicious gaze left Maddek and swept his Dragon. “You will need more male warriors—”

Abruptly his pale eyes rounded, mouth open in an agonized rictus. From between his gaping lips, a gout of foamy blood spurted over his chin and splattered down the front of his robes.

Shouts rose from the soldiers, horses snorting as their riders tensed, searching for the source of attack. Gaze scanning the trees, Maddek spun his mount to the side. None of his warriors had struck the man—though, like Maddek, they had been on the verge of it. If one more word had been spoken of their queen, they might have killed him. But someone had beaten them to it.

Had someone else come for Nyset’s heir—?

Swiftly Maddek reined his mare back around just as Cezan fell to his knees, moonstone eyes rolling in their sockets.

Behind him Yvenne stood with her brother’s bejeweled dagger clasped between her bound hands. Crimson dripped from her fingers and was a spreading stain down the white linens wrapping her forearms.

« I warned you to run,” she told Cezan flatly before placing her foot against his back and shoving him dead to the ground. »