ila

though the temperature hadn't changed. It was the pressure. The air was thick enough to choke on, saturated

monarch on a high-backed velvet throne. Jaden sat to his right, and I was placed beside my

ken only by the scrape of sil

the vaulted ceiling. He sliced into his steak with surgical precision, blood welling up around the bl

ically at his lips, his face paling. "It... it was a misunders

latter echoed like a gunshot. "While you were speaking, they annexed thre

otested, his voice shrill. "

y," Carter growled. His storm-gray eyes bored into Jaden, stripping him

my plate, my appetite gone. It was brutal to watch, yet a dark, treacherous part of me

ed. I felt it physically, a h

ave, becoming smoother, darker. "What do you brin

t Jaden cut in before

blance of authority. He waved a hand at me dismissively. "She keeps the sta

ails digging into my palms unt

calmed the most feral wolves during the full moon-were mine. That I was the ghostwriter behi

ing the flash of defiance I couldn't qui

red wine in his goblet, "she just needs a st

ung heavy in the air,

roke the tension. It was Uncle Silas, a distant cous

lecherous grin. "What's this I hear about a little pup on the way, eh,

The temperature seemed to

halfway to his mouth. "That..

Jaden. He picked up his bone-handled kni

Any pup born outside of a marked union is a bastard. They have no claim. No name. And the parents who stain our bloodline w

fork clattered onto his plate. The soun

red, his voice trembling.

his wine, his eyes never le

g issues, actually. She refused to sign the requisition forms for the Luna's winter stoc

. I asked to read them first bec

at Carter with a pleading expres

Under the heavy velvet tablecloth, I fe

asped softly, trying to pull away, but he was relentless. His knee drove between my legs,

My breath hitched, and a jolt of electricity-

n't looking at Jaden. He was staring right at me, h

trapping me against the chair. I was burning up, my face f

mine, holding me captive just as firmly as his leg held my body

rturously long-before abruptly pulling bac

chair signaled the end of the meal. Every wo

ket. He looked down at me, his expression unreadable, mas

"Walk me to my room. I require a... detailed

can-" Jad

voice cracking like a whip. "You have

e double doors without looking

ck. I had no choice. I was walking out of the frying pan and straight into t