tared at him. He stared back. The forest had gone com

inally ho

ecause I'd heard it before, but beca

rembled.

d backwa

changed, pain cross

my head. "My f

ered his eyes. Isabella

en them. "Tell

parted. Noth

gan poundin

I immediately stepped b

e - he wasn't looking at me like a stranger. He was lookin

t your moth

she told me y

kno

u died befor

. "She was trying

om

d. "From them." He poi

hind me. No

who killed

ed. "Your

took another step. "They

If you're really my fat

ded. "

e out broken. "Th

kno

prov

eaching into his coat for a small black box. He opened

picture was my mother - young, beautifu

re was no denying it. The eyes. The jaw. Even the

embling. "Why didn'

broke.

he

ry y

t him. "Ev

you from

idn't you a

you were alive, they w

ead. "I don'

" He looked toward the ho

ton

e. "Because Adri

"What does Adrian ha

Adrian rejected you publicly, the prot

tect

ck believed you wer

t him. "Bu

his hea

ounded. "W

Then he said, "You're the last surv

st laughed. "Th

the

ot a q

u a

even have

u w

t him. "An

yes. "Adrian is the reason I allowe

h caught

made a pro

ld. "What

would pro

beneath the moonlight, his promises, his k

did he r

away. "Because th

chan

iven an u

loser. "Wha

rdened. "Your life-" he p

mind. *Your life or his kingdom.* The exact

ned. "So he cho

oked directly at m

head. "He r

ly way to make them beli

thing had been a lie - the cruel words, the

at on the stone steps. My

't anyone

on who knew the tru

up. "My

ows eve

e is

n changed. "I

You said she was

e w

where

. I stood. "Wher

le

hook. "I've had

toward him. "If my mother is i

w what you're

n't c

sho

hy

he people who are hunting y

down my spine.

ters. They have been searching for

hy

can do something no

ha

moon. "It can unite

"Why would

trols your bloodline

tion. It was about me. My entire life had been built on a lie, and somewhere o

nded his hand.

ust him, but trusting people h

eed

d. "You

mansion, then stoppe

ow did you know Adr

eadable. "Because I was t

ran col

ery wolf around the mansion immediately dropped to one knee.

s he

ho

r didn't

ame from behin

t the edge of the clearing, his clothes tor

. My father looked at

mine. He took a breath. "

me, then at the father I'd just discovered was alive. A

th about me. And neith