t know how

by name. He had

question settled on her tongue, heavy an

e king. Not unless y

idn't offer her a seat. Didn't gesture. Didn't even acknowledge the guards as

ly watc

nt. The weight of his presence pressed against her senses, thick and unyielding. Mira felt her wol

oice low and cold, "you fina

ned interna

rategic collaboration..." she started, biting back the slight tremor in her voice.

speak. But if she wanted the favor o

't move. He simply assessed her, wit

d his lips-it wasn't a smile

ng her slowly, his boots silent against polished stone. "Running halfw

t her sides. How did

ira said evenly. "To disc

short, dism

had to tilt her head to meet his eyes. "You came all this way to beg me to polish Adri

an she expected. It almost

ly come to your senses. Instead, you're still the same lovesick

k, confusion, pain, and something else, something that s

ay. "I don't collaborate with wome

mething inside

hould be disappointed," Mira

went deat

turned

er voice steady. "Someone enlightened. Formidable. Not a man

wed-thick, he

Yet this woman, this lovesick woman dar

aster than sh

hroat, lifting her cleanly off the ground and slamming her back against t

nished fro

ing, suffocating, lethal. A weaker wolf would

did

ion, but defiance-despite the w

it was something else. Somethin

t in his eyes, the way his grey

ng was heav

hen she re

shing her win

ot kill

t he was

s burning inches from hers, "t

er panic down. Her pulse thundered, but

I admit that. But perfection has never

tened slightl

, breath shallow but controlled. "I didn't come here for Adr

flickered

Mira said. "I'm offering a long-term strate

, broken only by the sound

ectedly-Ev

deep, rich,

ng her abruptly, "is the spi

the ground. His hand lingered briefly at her throat, thumb brushin

rawled dow

k, his express

et," he said. "W

ned. "Then nam

es glistening with something she didn't recognize, s

nding like poison. "Prove you're more than the woman who once lost herse

pau

ly, "and this convers

in defiance. She wa

n't f

d his lips-dark, a

ll s