"Ronan, may I be honest with you?" Ronan glanced at Stella, opting for the distraction from thinking of where he could possibly sleep. He rested his chin on his palms to brace for another comment on his intelligence. "If you're nice about it." "I wish to thank you and Cursimian." She perched on the table, trying to roll her body and mimic a bow of respect. "Your character is one I have not come by in my years with the Council. Many of us golems are destroyed for sport." Ronan frowned, his heart sinking at the words. She may have played his patience on a number of occasions, but Stella deserved some shred of respect by her peers. "I'm sorry to hear that." He rose a little as red caught his corner vision, the inked portrait of a ruby flumigan somehow giving him comfort. A flicker of familiarity. "So you really don't remember who you were before you died?" "I do not, but I have grown used to my circumstances. Why do you ask?" "Phantom is the same way. He doesn't remember who he was

Veronica sat in ponderment. She knew she had been cleansing her hands at the water enchantments for far too long, and likely looked as though she was admiring her reflection to anyone that entered the bathroom. It was fine, most nobles born to Latos would be tranced by simpler things. The green dress she had suffered herself into was definitely lighter on decorations, but it would still do the trick.Sonya's plan had a good foundation, and married well to some refining touches. The biggest obstacle to their success was now the sheer delicacy of timing it right. She pulled the liquid curse out of her pocket, making sure she was alone before carefully peeling off the label. Where Sonya had found such a potent spell was a question for another time, but if their target suddenly changed his story in court, the Council would reassess him for enchantments—and the plan would go up in smoke.There was a solution though. She slipped another vial from her pocket, different, but nearly the same s

Veronica forced a chuckle, resisting the urge to shake off the arm that looped her shoulder like a dead slug. Goldwater nobles truly were the worst company, the odd thorn out being Horus and his tastelessly perfect set of manners.It wasn't much of a surprise that Ronan had landed on the receiving end of a Louvre's backhanded tactics. Of all the noble houses of Goldwater, their relationship was the most frayed with Alta Staar. She was just thanking her lucky stars that beside her was one of many forgotten children bearing the title. The family's first born hadn't taken to private schooling."Really? I thought you two were friends?""Gods no, he follows me around everywhere I go like a lost puppy and calls it friendship." Her stomach flopped as he pulled her in closer, striking her with a concotion that couldn't tear itself between flowers and burning timber. She forced herself to lock gazes, returning his childish grin with a smile that hopefully didn't flaunt her desire to leave. "Yo

"Are you crazy, Veronica?!" Adrian belted."I want to see one! I don't want him to get hurt, maybe Cinder could help him!"Mr. Jackling crouched down, gently grabbing Veronica's hands to squeeze some confidence into her. "It would take many a Garaean to even scratch your father, Veronica."She didn't budge. That excuse had fallen out of a lot more than Mr. Jackling's mouth. "What if one gets lucky?""Your father is the luckiest man I have met, to have three beautiful children that worry so much about him.""I'm not beautiful," Adrian puffed, his lips tugged down at the girlish word. "You should know a proper compliment, servant.""He's right Adrian, you're the prettiest boy in all of Listillvice," Veronica cooed, grinning at the sharp glare her brother had. She never understood how he got away with his manners towards Mr. Jackling. All the other adults had him tripping over greetings.Mr. Jackling rested a palm on both their shoulders, paying Adrian a bow of respect he hadn't earned.

Ronan felt eyes upon him. Digging and clawing. Expecting.Expecting the correct answer to fill in the blank number five."Lotil Frills?"Truvius' face didn't budge. Dungeon master of the intermediate enchantment materials homework key. "You are..."Ronan double checked the paragraph. Mr. Truffle wasn't nice enough to copy lines right out of the books. But he had to be right on this one. Unless he was losing his ability to read too."Correct!"He pumped his fist with relief. There was no one like Truvius to give him a high off a right homework question."Twenty more to go.""And then onto the Camp Gorigol report."Ronan bounced his hands at that one. "Maybe. What side did you choose?"Truvius popped an eyebrow. The Garaean Empire had been footing his tuition since day one, and the look on his face screamed he wasn't risking all that on a small paper.Ronan continued the silent conversation with a shrug, Lumi sang a similar tune to Earth's in the strangest places. The world had been no