rand hall. He walked ahead of me through the dim c

wing no sign of the chaos that had jus

eps behind. They moved like they already knew th

one floor because I had no other choice. He pushed o

hift in atmosphere. The door clicked shut behind me

side table and poured himself a glass of dark liquid. He took one slow sip and set the glass down

him so clearly. His eyes moved over my face the

s my name. It sounds like a command instead of a greeting

firelight with his drink. He began to talk in th

e intended to do with it. He laid out the details wit

other contract that

feel my heart drop into my stomach at the me

a wolf seeking refuge from a broken pack." He wants me to be unn

" he added. I looked down at the gold crest still glowing agai

e was higher than I wanted it to be. "It is not a w

lsion he will not be able to explain." He thinks he can outsmart the oldest magic in our worl

. An Alpha with an unidentified bonded is an

let it happen," he said. I watched him take another sip of h

know the answer but I want to hear him say it. I

security protocols, and every weakness in the Valdemar structure

ning a grocery list. I sat there and

den of the most dangerous Alpha in Spain. He wants me to get close enough to destr

his position by trusting every stranger who walks through

it." He looked at me with cold eyes that showed no flickering of doubt. "You ha

." He thinks my invisibility is a skill. He is not wrong

things no one bothered to teach me. He has know

produced something worth spending. I am a coin he has been savin

" I asked. "What if it pulls me toward him in ways I ca

I am willing to

iles of territory. He finished his drink and set the glass on the desk. He straightened his cuffs

nversation. He has not asked me a single question about

near the door and looked

asked. The silence that followed was long enough to provide the

old texts were not specific about bloodline requirements." He

flat and empty. "You waited to se

d opened it for me to leave. He paused with his hand

me. "We have arrangements

ne in the quiet study. I looked at the fire a

t he finally looked at me and saw a blade. He is not walking me into dang

. I walked over to his desk and saw a small black envelope tucked

t was not my father's. Inside was a single key and a set of

melled of ozone and expensive cologne.