a's

ugh, heavy with the weight of the unyielding cold biting into my ski

and old blood. Every sound echoed-dripping water, distant

it kept me

throughout the night wa

go to them, y

to do is sa

it ser

d reall

d make him think twice before completely destroying me. But it was clear the moment they shove

a pr

urd

to

didn't g

ached. Not the rushed movements of guards, doing checks . Thi

mo

enjoyed the comfort of a warm bed and maybe the soft body of two or more la

ning from ear to ear. "I bet

't ans

the last time, Alina. Do you want to face the Lycan kings? Or should I

curled in

to scream

ed to

good wo

would s

ld stand u

k Father's seat. They would obey him blindly-e

ld go. Running wasn't an option; Damon had guards everywhere. Fighting wo

o me. Maybe they would hurt me. Maybe they would use me. Maybe

t I'd b

ays the chance-however small-to protect m

head and met

ws lifted,

ice steady even though m

his lips. "Good. You final

s best. Wha

ck the cell. They grabbed my arms-not too roughly this time, but

on, "the kings will be

t above. Brightness smashed on my eyes. I blinked while the shapes finally to

eauty after passing

y were washed my skin with hot water to scrub off all dirt and smell of the dungeon. Anoth

ne s

met m

g me and touching me, some chore to get done

ceptional, nothing grand-honestly, just clean and modest. The soft fab

od waiting. Its wheels were muddy, and the horses looked restive, stamp

ed with every st

was

from my home, away from the lands I grew up in

set, I wou

ow, I would belong

ve been sealed,

rriage door and prepa

t in, the sound of fast footstep

up to Damon. Damon stepped o

it?" Damo

ad. "Alpha... just got in a messag

on shifted with

here to get their