For some girls, age eighteen is the magical age of freedom and independence. For Aerys, turning eighteen means an arranged marriage to a man she's never met before, leaving the only home she's ever known, and accidentally discovering things she never knew about the world, about her family, and about herself, things that have been lurking beneath the surface all along. However, each new discovery brings new questions with it, and the answers could lead in some very dangerous directions. She and her fiancé, Dmitri, must decide whether or not to find the answers to these questions and what to do with the knowledge they gain. To change the game instead of living by others' rules, they must look beyond what they see.

Look Beyond What You See

"Are you quite finished jabbing me in the hip with pins?" I demand testily of the clumsy maids who are currently trying to fit me for my wedding dress. I am not certain we ve decided on the exact design for that exalted garment--I am determined to have straps or sleeves of some sort, while the couturiers insist that I ought to wear a strapless dress with some sort of wrapper--and so I am not sure what the point of these fittings might be, but far be it from me to argue with Zinaida s decisions, after she treated me so kindly yesterday at luncheon.

"So sorry, milady," the offending maid stammers as she tries once again to get the pin through the white fabric (which I find more than a bit itchy) without also piercing my skin.

"We re almost finished with today s fitting session, Aerys, I promise," Malina assures me. She seems worn down. I haven t seen much of her lately. I wonder what they ve been making her do that has her so tired.

Chapter 41 Malina