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For how could the Kindred—their ancient enemies—allow her to assassinate one of their oithout retaliating?

If she had time, she would take the poison pill sewn into the he she had been working on for years But if not, her future surely involved torture and a slow, agonizing death at the hands of the giant Kindred, ere twice as tall and big as her own people

Allara knew all this but she did not dread her fate For how can one fight against destiny?

“I do not fear the her aunt’s eyes fiercely “No e et”

She fingered the sacrificial dagger in its jeweled sheath hanging around her neck on a golden chain It was deceptively short, having an oiled blade that unfolded in order to be long enough to pierce a broad, Kindred chest

She would probably wait for the ive herher lah Allara was prepared to be tortured, she had to admit she would prefer to have a quick death Then she could meet her ancestress in the Heavens and explain that she had avenged her abduction by the Kindred so o…

But her aunt was signing and shaking her head What had she said that rong?

“What is it, Aunt?” she asked, frowning “What have I said to distress you?”

“You do not understand, girl, you cannot kill the evil one right away,” her aunt told her “There is so which must happen first”

“What?” Allara felt the beginnings of alarm and tried to tamp the cowardly emotion down All her life she had been prepared for this moment and now there was a new detail in the plan? “What must happen first?” she demanded “And as I not told earlier?”

“I could not tell you before the eve of your wedding—it would not be proper,” her aunt said primly “But as you are to be married today to the evil one, now IAllara in the eyes “Before you can plunge your skora into the Kindred’s heart, he s”