Chapter 2

As if afraid Mother will say the word annulment again, Cedric snatches the parchment and throws it into the hearth.

The flames eat it in a breath.

He sighs, soft. Reaches out to stroke her hair the way he used to.

Mother turns her face away.

His hand stops in midair. He pulls back like she's burned him, and his face goes black.

"Tonight I'm taking Sera to the Queen's feast. Give her your bridal circlet. The gold one. With the sapphires."

"No!"

I'm on my feet before Mother can speak.

"That belonged to my grandmother. It's the only piece of she has left. No one touches it."

Seraphina's eyes flood on cue.

"My lord. I shouldn't have asked. I'm not worthy of Lady Elinor's heirlooms."

"I have no mother to leave me jewels. Let them laugh at me at court. I deserve it."

Father's face drops to ice.

"Elinor. This is how you raise my daughter? Sharp-tongued. No respect. Maybe she should be handed over to Sera from now on. Let Sera teach her what obedience looks like."

Mother goes white. She drags herself off the bed and puts her body between us.

"Take the circlet. Take all of it. Don't touch my girl."

Seraphina smiles, just for a flicker.

Then, sweetly, "My lord. I'm afraid I'll embarrass myself at the Queen's table. Why not let Lady Elinor come along as my handmaid? She can guide me. Keep me from shaming you."

A highborn wife.

Serving the whore as her maid.

That isn't guidance. That's the knife twisting.

"Done." he doesn't even pause.

By dusk, they throw a servant's dress through the door.

Mother stands up. Every step makes her flinch. She pulls the rough cloth over her bruises body slow.

I can't stop crying.

She wipes my face with her thumb. Then she presses something cool into my palm.

A white bone hairpin, carved like a feather.

"Pearl. Listen. I may not have much time left with you."

"When I'm gone, take this north. Find Lord Rowan Ashford. The Border Marquess. He was your grandfather's sworn ward. He will protect you with his life."

I clutch the hairpin so hard it cuts my palm.

I know what she is. A candle burned down to nothing.

She fought. God knows she fought.

When Seraphina first arrived, Mother set her up in a small house just outside the town — quietly, so she wouldn't ruin my fame living with us.

The next morning, Father called Mother jealous, and made her crawl on her knees down the road, all ten miles, to beg Seraphina back.

Six months ago, when Mother woke up from the pennyroyal, she took a knife and went straight for Seraphina's room.

Cedric caught her at the door. He dragged her back by her hair and told her if she ever crossed Seraphina's threshold again, he'd dig up Grandmother's bones from the family crypt and scatter them to the dogs.

Three days ago, filthy drawings of Seraphina from her whoring days started showing up all over Thornhold Keep.

Father decided Mother had done it.

That same night, he drugged Mother and locked her in a room with seven beggars.

That was when the last light went out of her eyes.

I curl into her thin chest and feel every rib.

"Mama —"