las

ice in my veins. I stood overlooking the city, the world below looking like a chessboard I had already wo

el

tasted like ra

ntal intrusion so sharp it felt l

with fear, but with a rage that mirrored my own. He

Ragnar, rose from his slumber, his h

ite tablecloth next to her mimosa. Inside lay a tarnished silver locket, embedded with a clouded moons

I had seen it in the old dossiers. It belonged to Adella's mother-the Lun

nt her daughter, Azalea's mental voice

ttle the crystal decanter on my desk. This wasn't j

commanded, her to

asure, I

ediately opened another to

tiate the H

The full protocol? That includes shorting their holdings and fr

earnings deficit to the press. I want their sto

h caution. This is tantamount to a declaration of war. The Counci

projecting a wave of dominance that I knew would forc

, pacing the cage of my m

irst, we take his power

se that afternoon, the damage was don

mchair, looking small and fragile, an iPad glowing in her hands

e and glassy. The scent of her distress-

g. "The news... they're saying the Hyde family is

sening my tie. "It is a correc

You can't destroy an entire economy just because... because of me." She took a step b

wort

napped. The leash I k

before she could blink. I backed her against the bookshelves, my ha

voice dropping into that dangerous, inhum

of the books. Her heart hammered against her ribs

I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with her scent-moonflower, rain, and the sweet, intoxicating ar

ing now. Claim he

to the Lycan King. I could feel the heat radiating from her skin, the electric pull of the bond arcing between us. She didn't push me

ld be

out of anger and instinct, I would just

myself to pull back. I straightened my su

" I said, my voice r

g against the bookshelf for supp

to put distance between us befor

said, not looking bac