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cut her to the core. How she wanted to ignore them. Toss them aside as
inconsiderate ramblings of a cold, heartless woman. However, Nicoletta
was anything but heartless. Alexandreina knew her to be caring and
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compassionate. Not once had she spoken to Alexandreina with anything
but thoughtful intentions.
But with her pain so fresh, Alexandreina couldn t think past herself.
She hurt too much to consider what all this meant to her people, to what
Anghel and Priestess Cami had entrusted her to do.
And Cami? She wondered how the priestess grieved this eve. Or if she
did? Did the Draconian have the capacity to feel this much?
Rolling onto her back, she hugged the pillow tightly. A tear slipped
from her eye to drip onto the bed covers. Yes, she could imagine how the
priestess must feel. Alexandreina had been witness to the feelings
between her and Anghel. She knew them to be real. She saw it in both
their faces. There were no lies there.
And what of Sorin? Were there lies there? The last time they made
love, did he not proclaim himself? More tears fell as she thought of what
they had lost. A chance at a relationship? Possibly. A chance at love?
She turned onto her side again and squeezed the pillow tighter,
pushing her face into the side to stem the sob threatening to erupt. So
much loss, in a span of moments. Her whole world had been destroyed,
and she could never get it back.
If Anghel were here, he would tell her that the only good thing in life
was change. That change afforded a person another chance. To do what,
was up to them.
Squeezing her eyes shut, trying to push out the pain, Alexandreina
let his words swirl in her mind. What chance did she possibly have?
Eventually sleep claimed her. And she dreamed of Sorin.
He stood over her as she lounged on the green grass near the river.
He was gloriously naked and smiling down at her. She could feel the
prickles of the greenery on her skin and the breeze on her arm as she
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122 Vivi Anna
reached up to him. He took her hand in his. Then he squeezed. It felt like
he was crushing her bones one by one.
Gasping for breath, Alexandreina bolted awake and tried to sit up. It
was then that she realized someone had her hand and was pushing it up
against her throat so she couldn t cry out.
Panicked, she tried to struggle, but whoever held her was much too
strong.
 Be still, a voice rasped into her ear.
Alexandreina stilled her movements and turned her head to the side.
She came face to face with the priestess, dressed entirely in black. She
seemed like a living shadow pressed up against Alexandreina s body.
 I don t have much time. Rica will be looking for me soon.
 What do you want? Alexandreina whispered, her voice ragged and
hoarse from her grief.
 It s time to finish it. Rica must not be allowed to continue.
Alexandreina shook her head.  I can t turn Sorin 
 It s too late for that now. Matters have progressed. Gogu s army
marches forward. Rica must die within two days.
 But 
 You must kill him.
Alexandreina pushed Cami s hand away and sat up.  What? I can t.
That s impossible.
 You can and you must. You are the only one that can. Sitting up,
Cami reached under her dark cloak and came away with a thin, wrapped
bundle. Setting it in one hand, she gently pulled back the fabric. A silver
dagger lay in wait.  Take this and strike him down.
Shaking her head, Alexandreina pushed herself away from Cami and
the knife.  Impossible. I won t be able to get near him. Not now. Not after
what he s done.
 It s the perfect time. He s made a huge effort to break you and Sorin
apart. You can use that to our advantage. Feign hatred toward Sorin. For
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choosing Anghel to die. It was his fault that this happened. Rica made
sure that it looked that way. She set the dagger down on the bed and
slid it over to Alexandreina.  Go to Rica claiming your subservience.
Denounce any feelings you have for Sorin and set the blame and loathing
on his shoulders. Rica will lap it up. That is exactly what he wants to
happen. The reason he planned it so. Let it happen that way.
Alexandreina stared down at the knife. Could it be so easy? To go to
Rica and plunge the dagger into his black heart, ending so many years of
tyranny and brutality.
 You will have to let him seduce you, Alexandreina.
Her head came up and she cringed back in horror.  I can t. I won t be
able to stand it if he touches me.
Cami grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight.  You must. That is the
only way. Once he has served you, he will be vulnerable. As the blood
races through his system, he will not be aware of what is going on
around him. This is when he will be at his weakest. No other time. This
is when you will take the knife and plunge it into his neck. He will die
this way and only this way. The silver will not allow him to heal the
wound.
 I can t do it.
Cami released her hold on Alexandreina s hand and sat back. Her
face was a stoic mask. However, Alexandreina could see the emotion even
in the black of her eyes.  You are the only one, Alexandreina. It is your
destiny to do this. If you refuse, then there is no hope for any of us. And
Anghel will have died in vain. For nothing.
Without another word, Cami stood, wrapped her black cloak about [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]