n's

quiet and warm bu

Plates clinked softly around us and low music played in the background. It should have been a pleasant night. Talia loved Chinese food. She ha

autiful the place wa

ink. My fingers were wrapped around the glas

n

stop thinkin

. She had poisoned Talia. She had looked at me with tears in her eyes and still insisted she wa

still think

where she was and

in the Fireblood pack,

me. "Try this," she said softly. "You will

forced a small s

ere bright and warm. She looked beautiful tonight. Her blonde hair fell over her s

e I would have enjoyed this evening

You are still far away," she said. "You

list

peaking for the last five minutes about the decorations I w

orry,"

cross the table to touch my hand. "

e first time we came here? You said the dumplings we

ath that was almost a

d the tea ta

di

"Then you drank

to pull myself into the moment. "

said softly. "Moments

a brief second, guilt moved through

pale face. Her trembling lips. The way she ha

he Fireblood pack taking her away

updated us by now. He was supposed to ha

ingle m

single

t about it, the m

at if he was helping her escape? What if th

tice how hard I was gripping the glass unti

a ga

oked

ver the surface of the

said quickly.

acked glass. A nearby server glanced in

and at once. "Y

crack

it too t

are not fine. You look so absent-minded

ed lying again. But I wa

dy have been punished. You would already have received justice. Instead, we are still waiting. We still do not

h, do not worry about Anya. The Alpha of Fireblood is a cruel man. I am sure that he is dealing wi

and softer. "We should st

stared at her.

arents were discussing it with mine yesterday. T

the restaurant, the cracked

rr

s

so soon?"

it because it is a good thing. Maybe they are in a hurry for grandchildre

age settled in my mind, Shado

o

low and roug

iffe

y Talia. She i

th tig

ow continued. The Moon

traitor, I shot back inside my mind. She is a criminal. She tried to poi

ed. I do not

the smallest

believe s

wolf had been restless for days, but until n

t died, I s

replied. Every time you think of Anya, you f

voice away. I lifted my chopstick

efully. "You do not look happy about our

mile. "No, I am very happy. I cannot wa

her eyes searched my face as if she w

e. Not until I make sure that Anya has bee

on top of that, the poison was a rare and expensive one found only in Fireblood territ

stoppe

d me seemed t

d at he

ware of the storm that

ith disgust. "I did not know she was so dangerou

d half of her words. One sen

rawer of

e one hard a

she kn

not to

had t

rely conscious. Only I and the two guards who were with me knew exactly where it had been hidden. After we fo

dare disobey me. Th

owly lowered

e been hidden. Her closet. Her bedside table. Beneath the mattress.

aid the desk dr

said it li

wled slowly

cup and took a delicate sip. Sh

red a

another. Anya crying and shaking as the guards dragged

, Leon. Please,

I had thought

en telling

mach t

ess

he one who had pla

g that for a moment I coul

o

do somethi

tle and soft-spoken. The daughter of a Beta fa

e know where the po

dow was sudden

ou se

is is just a mistake. So

uards from speaking. She was in the hos

no a

onto my plate. "You have barely eaten,"

the normally. Do not re

ed, I could not reveal my suspicion now. N

am just tired. There has be

ng about that girl. She is gone. Soon this whole

t g

educed to those words made some

lf to nod. "Y

xed. She seemed pl

de, I wa

wanted and whether she preferred white flowers or red. Talia brightened at once and began describing the ceremony

d the right things. All the

r face. Every blink. Every smile

r? Or was she truly innoce

and said, "You are final

back. "Of

was counting

arm as we walked out of the restaurant together. The night air was cool. The street

am glad we came tonight. I missed

was soft in the dim light. She

id not know what

d and stepped inside. As I walked around

ed the

kn

then we sent our m

the chest. I gripped the car doo

gain and guest lists and music, but her voice soun

hether anyone had spoken. I needed to know whether there

I needed word from

elling the truth, then I h