Nim took in the room of courtiers, men and women who lay prostrate on the floor, subjugated by magic, living out their worst fear. They had vowed to protect Stewart, to secure his reign, and—if need be—to give their lives in order to keep the kingdom safe. Warrick had brought them to their knees in one breath and had rendered them defenseless with little more.
She had been turned away from those people as a girl, cast out from good society when her father had made a sacrifice to save them all. Nim had longed to return since, to finally find the Inara of her home. But Inara had never been the ideal she had imagined. It had been teeming with secrets even then. The truth had been outed, the darkness had risen, and Stewart and her father were gone.
But she would not leave.
Pushing down the emotions that clawed inside her, Nim took hold of Warrick’s hand and rose to her feet. Never mind that Inara had turned against him—Warrick was the only thing left to keep it safe.
Nim would stand beside him. She had nothing else. Something eased in him as she joined him, but it could not quite have been called relief, even as he clung to it as if it was a lifeline in the dark and deadly sea of power around them.
Maris watched from the floor with the guard, her gaze moving slowly from their clasped hands to Nim’s face. It seemed a look full of questions, and as Nim stared back, she found she’d a question of her own.
If Warrick hadn’t made a deal with the queen to kill Stewart, then what had he sacrificed to save Nim?
The Story Continues
Please look for Between Ink and Shadows book three:
Beneath Stone and Sacrifice
An outcast queen. A stolen crown. A war with magic.
Find it now at your favorite retailer.
Also by Melissa Wright
- STANDALONE FANTASY -
Seven Ways to Kill a King
- SERIES -
BETWEEN INK AND SHADOWS
Between Ink and Shadows
Before Crown and Kingdom
Beneath Stone and Sacrifice
THE FREY SAGA
Frey
Pieces of Eight
Molly (a short story)
Rise of the Seven
Venom and Steel
Shadow and Stone
Feather and Bone
DESCENDANTS SERIES
Bound by Prophecy
Shifting Fate
Reign of Shadows
SHATTERED REALMS
King of Ash and Bone
Queen of Iron and Blood
- WITCHY PNR -
HAVENWOOD FALLS
Toil and Trouble
BAD MEDICINE
Blood & Brute & Ginger Root
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About the Author
Melissa is the author of more than a dozen YA and fantasy novels and countless to-do lists. She is currently working on the next book, but when not writing can be spotted collecting the things she loves at Goodreads and Pinterest. Contact her through the web at www.melissa-wright.com
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Character Art by Zara H