ut only six chairs were set out, which somehow made it feel worse - like

r six hours. I alre

ing me to a seat near the head of the table. He

t look at me. That was f

ke Raulph - quiet, controlled - but his eyes were different

aid, not really to any

r's voice had a

y new sister." Parker almost sm

arning - in this house, giving people a

way, like everything about her had been arranged for effect. She kissed Parker's cheek,

d. "We've heard s

hings,

ve its own war college? I heard your border guards train with old Frevnent weapo

e me, Raulph went still, bu

needed a Silver Moon last name before anyone outside your own pack took you se

er exactly. Surprise. Like she hadn't expected th

ht, he almost looked entertained. It didn't feel like it w

st chair like he owned the room. "Keep looking at her

ker said. "A Crimson g

out loud. Then he turned to me, and his whole face changed - softer, warmer, definitely flirting. "The rumors were wrong, by the way. They said angel

Raulph's

ass toward me. "To the first interesting th

se it was the first time all night someone had looked at me like I wasn't a problem to be managed. I di

hough, how fast you've adjusted. Girls from lower packs usually struggle so much with our customs here. The manners, the - " s

oug

He didn't say it loud. He didn't ne

nked. "I o

wo years, Phiona, and you still introduce yourself with your father's title instead of my brother

he didn't jump in to defend her. Phiona opened her mouth, close

hat he'd just done. There wasn't. He'd already gone back to his food like it was nothing. L

e. That he'd done it. Or that some

d cheerfulness of a man used to cleaning up after his k

ss the table and winked, like we had some private joke going. Parker didn't loo

at I could feel the warmth off his arm. Far enoug

e. Not sweet. Not soft. Just a fact, thrown out like

definitely hadn't asked to feel a

ing at food I didn't want anymore.