The King'

rough the night, a harsh, jagged sound that scra

massive iron gates, she could see the flickering torches of a hunting party. There were at least twenty of th

Her heart gave a traitorous thud. N

Malakai's voice rumbled fr

assive chest and heavy boots that sounded like thunder on the floor. He s

g on the hilt of a sword that looked heavy enough to split a mountain. "A

at him. "If he takes me back, I won't make it to t

thumb traced the line of her jaw, and for a second, the g

, Elara," h

st in the sheer p

carried a weight that made the very air in the room vibrate. "Not a

draped it over her shoulders. It was twice her size,

t say a word unless I tell you to. I

opped to one knee, their heads bowed in total submission. Elara felt the shift in the air. In her

iron bars were glowing red from

ate," Malak

ed. "There are twenty of

adcount," Malakai grow

wind of the forest rushed in, smelling of pine and

hlight. When he saw Elara, his lip curled into a sneer

p at his belt. "Do you have any idea the mess you've caused? Running off into the King's woods like

her throat. Her legs trembled. Sh

ive arm stepped

ing. He didn't just stand in front of her; he loom

Malakai said. His voice was smooth, like silk

turning a strange shade of grey as he realized who he was looking at. He saw the cr

t was forced and awkward. "I... I didn't realize she had made it this far. The girl is a servant fr

back at Elara, then back at Kaelen. "That's strange.

g his fear. "The Goddess gave her to me! Even if I rejected

pered. The word hit he

lakai's shadow. Her voice was

am not a dog you can kick and then call back when you're lonely. Yo

el eyes flashing with Alpha power. "I am

er wolf to obey. Elara felt the weight of it. It felt like an invisible

er closely. He didn't stop the comman

lpha command was a heavy chain pul

. A voice that sounded like a thousan

Elara. It wasn't the bond

wn her arms and into her fingertips. Her eyes, usually a

ice sounding deeper, more a

st, but a spiritual one. It hit the Silver Moon warriors like a physical wall.

hard in the slush-the exact same

hat followed

a mixture of shock and predatory hunger. He h

ud, his face pale with horr

i said, stepping forward. He put a heavy, possessive arm

ty warriors, all of w

ll him that Elara Vance is no longer a member of the Silver Moon. She is a ward of the Ob

terrifying smile

ack back to the Goddess piece b

his feet. "She's a mate-less runt! The Council wil

opping to a whisper that everyone heard. "I'm starting a war for

light fading from her eyes. He saw the way she was lea

jumped onto his horse. "He'll tire of you!

into the dark woods, their torch

her. The silver heat in her chest cooled, leaving her feeling empty a

hispered. "I stop

, his hands gripping her shoulders. He looked at her with an intensity that made

that mean?"

Malakai said. He leaned down, his forehead resting against hers. "And i

afraid?"

, I've been waiting a hundred years for a reason to

e Citadel walls. A gargoyle, carved from heavy

a piece of parchment, pi

ce turning into a mask of pu

lara asked, her

r the note. It wa

e Shadows. Give her to us, or