At their mate_-selecti^@on ceremony, Gra$-\nt rejec[=ts Mara in fro-_nt of b (#o-`t!h tri$\b=es and gives he(;r place to her ![.;cryi\ :( ng young[:
=er s.ister. He swear.s it is o@ !n (ly _/]tempo`ra?-*ry. He has forgotten on@!e\* thing: ;[ Mara turns twenty-two i=n  thre:e( d*[ays^+. Un[)^der tribal *$%law, a
_n [-unmate%^)!d woman l`os%_es her right to c\:^hoose, and Ma_`ra ha(^s already be(*[\en assigned !to the*` dying D=_r^agon [[King!). Grant expects *he$[r
+
father@
, t:+o stop i ;+t.
^-@ Mara accepts the decree. *] Three days later, as 
Gr`? ant _(]comes `to bond wit!h Brenna
, on.@%e hun*[.dr+ed
d=[ra$gon`! guards a[_rriv=!e a.t t$he Hal!e gates to escort Mar .a away as t
?$hei%;)r fu@:/ture quee] )n.