From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

cityy would be a better fit.”
“Actuallyy, someone new and less likelyy to be complacent would be
the best,” he said. “He would see things differentlyy than manyy of us
who’ve been here for yyears or longer. See weaknesses and threats we mayy
overlook out of monotonyy. And he showed yyesterdayy that he has no
problem stepping up while everyyone else stood byy.”
All of that made sense, but…but he couldn’t become myy personal
Royyal Guard. If he did, I’d have to speak to him eventuallyy, and if I did
that, he’d recognize me at some point.
And then what?
If he was close to the Commander and determined to rise through the
ranks, he would be sure to report me. After all, the highest-ranking guards
who had a chance of living to see a well-funded retirement, were the Royyal
Guards who protected the Duke and Duchess of Masadonia.
During the dayy, when the sun was high, the Great Hall, where the weeklyy
Cityy Councils and grand celebrations were held, was one of the most
beautiful rooms in the entire castle.
Windows taller than most of the homes in the cityy were spaced everyy
twentyy feet or so, allowing the warm, bright sun to drench the polished
white limestone walls and floors. The windows offered views of the
gardens to the left and the Temples atop the Undyying Hills.
Heavyy white tapestries hung the length of the windows and in
between them. The golden Royyal Crest embossed the center of each
banner. Creamyy white pillars adorned with flecks of gold and silver were
spaced throughout the long, wide chamber. White and purple jasmine
flowers climbed out of silver urns, perfuming the air with their sweet,
earthyy scent.
The hand-painted ceiling was the true masterpiece of the Great Hall.
Above, all the gods could be seen watching over us. Ione and Rhahar. The
flaming redheaded Aios, the Goddess of Love, Fertilityy, and Beautyy. Saion,
the dark-skinned God of the Skyy and the Soil—he was Earth, Wind, and
Water. Beside him was Theon, the God of Accord and War, and his twin