Vanc

en. I sat in the furthest corner, hoping to eat quickly and disappear before I h

tray down across from me with a wor

e one to bring it, climbing through my window like a thief in the night. The lie tasted like ash in my mouth. Dece

ng preparations, her words painting a picture of a beautiful

Seraphina's arrival. She glided towards our t

lara," she said, her sm

y feet. "Fu

t felt like a brand. "Please, don't be so formal. We'll be family soo

her tone deceptively sweet. "Elara, I

meted. This was

m not familiar with the local artisans, and Moira has pack duties. I've heard you have the bes

uture Luna, framed as a compliment, was impos

med in, oblivious. "You should spe

would wear to marry my fated mate was a form of psychological torture I couldn't ima

facade, and I understood. This was a test. A declaration of war. After last night's M

admission of guilt.

two are not in conflict.* I would show

ze, my own expression carefully neutral. "O

se her. A flicker of something-annoyance? r

eady as I twisted the knife in my own heart, "I would be truly honored." The words were for her, but they were al

"Excellent. Ryker will be joining us.

w. The floor seemed to

the part of the happy, devoted co

but I forced my features in

of my own. "Understood. Is there

satisfaction of a cat who has cornered a mouse. "Meet us at the entrance in

on I would make. I stared down at the food on my plate,

to my own lo