Page 4 (1/2)

Winter released a cry of relief She clapped a hand over her mouth, but it was too late to stifle the noise

There were hts to add, Princess?" Levana said through her teeth

Winter gathered her es are alise and final, My Queen"

"This ruling is not finished" The queen’s voice hardened as she addressed Jacin again "Your inability to kill or capture Linh Cinder will not go unpunished, as your inco of my betrothed For this cris to be held on the central dais, followed by forty hours of penance Your sentence shall coht-break"

Winter flinched, but even this punishment could not destroy the fluttery relief in her stolass at all, but a girl of sunshine and stardust, because Jacin wasn’t going to die

"And, Winter…"

She jerked her attention back to her step her with disdain "If you atteue removed in payment for your kindness"

She shrank back into her chair, a tiny ray of her sunshine extinguished "Yes, My Queen"

Three

Winter ake hours before light brightened the doo to watch Jacin receive his lashings, knowing that if he saw her, he would have kept hi in pain She wouldn’t do that to hier than any of them

She dutifully nibbled at the cured ht for her breakfast She allowed the servants to bathe her and dress her in pale pink silk She sat through an entire session with Master Gert tutor, pretending to try to use her gift and apologizing when it was too hard, when she was too weak He did not see slack-jawed at her face, and Winter didn’t know if he would be able to tell if she really did glaone; one of theof warmed milk and cinnamon and turned down her bed, and finally Winter was left alone

Her heart pounded with anticipation

She slipped into a pair of lightweight linen pants and a loose top, then pulled on her night robe so it would look like she earing her bedclothes underneath She had thought of this all day, the plan taking forether Willful determination had stifled any hallucinations

She fluffed her hair to look as if she’d woken frohts, and cli chandelier clipped her brow and she flinched, stepping back and catching her balance on the thick mattress

Winter braced herself with a breath full of intentions

Counted to three

And screa a knife into her sto at her flesh

She screauard stationed outside her door burst inside, weapon drawn Winter went on screaainst the headboard and clawed at her hair

"Princess! What is it? What’s wrong?" His eyes darted around the dark roo an ar off a shred It was beco easier to believe she was horrified There were phanto in around her