city

structure. Euan and Gwyn, who had been positioning themselves to take p

ncy. Donn, looking sullen and resentful, was brought from the cells to

sper from his mother, who made

ining some of its old arrogance. "That Brianda and I were always meant to

y. Patriarch Alaric looked disgusted, but he didn't immediately

uggestion clearly revolted her, but it also

said, her voice dangerously quiet. "A re

ng the weight of

him by vow, they must complete the

. A mating ceremony? With a man who couldn't consent, couldn't eve

d, the word catc

An excellent idea, Mother Eleonora! It might be the very thi

t for me. And if Ansel died, I'd be left with a child, a con

"It is our best chance to

of cold calculation and greedy hope. They weren't

d, my voice shaking with

immense. "This is not a request, Felicity. It is yo

e gentle but laced with steel. "The Carl

hy, no compassion. Only their own interests reflected back at me

ificed, I would set the

lifted my chin and met Eleonora's gaze. My voic

ept. On thre

Wolfless stray, dare

, my eyes locked on the

is to be transferred from the Tate family's control to

eyebrows ro

ot, I am to be formally invested with the title of Luna. With

w, the mockery replace

and mine alone. No one enters his rooms, no one administers treatm

manding power. I was using my own body as leve

In their eyes, I saw a new respect dawning.

ching his thin lips. "Agreed. Bear the Alpha a

will send word to the Tates a

ss washed over me, but beneath it was

l had inadvertently paved my way to a position

d. The ceremony, I was t

ld, leather-bound books. They detailed ancient ferti

me as I looked at the explicit diagram

acts in the most profane of circumstances.