van

spreadsheet blurr

ower in downtown Crestfall City. A world away from the r

ving a quiet update on a hostile

ing a name that made my temple throb

g face filled the large monitor on the wall. So

darling, workaholi

Grandmoth

mate is up to." A mischievous glint. A tap on her end, and the screen

th c

fternoon sun. Simple jeans and a t-shirt, but she shone brighter than a

plaining. "To pick up a special blend of tea from a li

matter. Eyes co

n,

ont of her, blocking her path. A low

nt cold,

chair groaned in protest. Beside me, Vance stiffened, sensing the s

ep around him. Another block. A

uth. Unheard, but

out, aiming to

reaming commands, Alpha instincts demanding to teleport across the

wolf reacting to my barely con

n, it h

n the scree

r hair, April moved. A blur of motion. A quick step back, creatin

ected with hi

agony. Doubling over with a

t run. No c

the pathetic, writhing man on the pavement. Her

ece of trash she'd

ker. "Keep your hands to yourself, scumbag." Low a

shocked onlookers, a turn and into th

the chai

d dismissal. The

rl painted in my mind. Not a frag

d claws. And she k

ssive, awe-struck vibration. She didn't need a king. She needed a throne.

unglasses pushed up on her head. Beaming. "See?" Filled

onse. C

s my face. A real smile, one that rea

s magn

ared his throat. "Alpha? Do you still requ

ers gone. A strange, buoyant feeling. "No, Vance."

il

ier in Paris, Genevieve Blackwood

welry designer s

h filling her voice. "That is m

l nod from

and earring set of fiery rubies, designed to look like leaping flames. The other

pped on bot

the finest stones, the best craftsmanship. I want

e woman Donovan thought April was. The

r April would