tions. Banners of black and silver snapped in the wind above the battlements. Torches were set along every path leading to the sacred grove where the rite would take pla

s fogging in the cold, while elders chanted low

ry heartbeat li

e woke flushed and restless, the memory of his mouth on hers burning behind her eyelids. Every brush of fabric against her skin reminded her of h

s safer than the ache between her thighs or the constant awareness of Damien moving somewhere in the keep. She could feel him now: in the armory selecting armo

her there ju

above the collar of her gown, catching the weak winter sunlight and glowing with faint inner light. Clara's beauty had always been

cing around to ensure no one else

keep. Snow had been cleared from the stone paths, but frost still glittered on the bare rose bushes. They walked in si

sitated, then joined her,

reamble. "In the lower hall. And again last night nea

lenched. "It is no

ave watched you my whole life, Ashley. You carry everything silently. Every insult. Every task. Every bruise from his temper. You

rom the cold water. "He is to be your mate. I woul

covered Ashley's hand with her own. The touch wa

epped onto the far side of the garden wall. Ashley could feel him pause, sense the d

is ceremony means. Father speaks of tradition, but I see only

to be used as a vessel and then forgotten. That is w

ed once, th

Moon Goddess demands balance: purity preserved through sacrifice. I wanted to refuse. I wanted to tell him no. But he reminded me of the ro

not fall. "I hate that silence. I hate

d their fingers together. "It will not

him now. Not with fear. With something deeper. And he looks back the s

"No crescent. No proof. Whatever this is, it cannot ch

supply horses and ride south. The river trails are clea

er's wrath or Damien's indifference. If I run, they will hunt me. They will blame

rs sagged. "The

e moment comes when I can protect you withou

into a fierce embrace. "I love you," she whispered against

but for once it did not pull her toward Damien. It simply ex

ed to the solar for fittings and blessings. Ashley returned to h

ered in the great hall for storytelling and ale. Ashley slipped away to the old watchtower on the eastern wall, a forgotten

him climbing the spiral stairs. She did not startle. She h

him. Moonlight silvered the edges of his dark hair. He stopp

with Clar

gaze on the distant forest, where shadows moved betw

d closer but did not touch h

t I am afraid. That I w

nfirmed in writing. A blood oath between us. My signature beside yours, witnessed

ch twisted. "A

editate on the Goddess's will." He gave

een them, broken

e him fully. "If we

ce. Gideon declares the insult unforgivable. Rogues exp

tly. "You use me under the moon. You claim Cla

ters. Mated wolves feel their true mates even acros

rms around herself.

pping her face between his palms. "We are not t

surged, flooding her with heat and certainty

ery challenge. Every raid. I never yielded. But this... you

hispered. "Do not make p

head rested against hers. "One night.

caught. "

imant may challenge the arranged union at first light. A fight to the deat

uttered. "You wou

is voice dropped to a growl. "But first we must survive the night. The

his face. "

my scent, my seed. But it will not be cold ritual. It will be us. Only us

g her eyes

er the duel. Gideon will have no choice but to accept it or face rebellion from b

pped around them, tugging at her hai

e echoed. "One

ress of his lips. She kissed him back with equal desperation, hands fist

breathing hard, he rested hi

n. Whatever happens after, know this: you are m

throat too ti

he waxing moon spilled silver across the snow. Below them the

ghts r

een them had be

l waited like a