lia

e with enough force to crush steel, bo

and let the razor fangs sha

, and used its own charge to swing me half a circle around its body - driv

per's toxin works with

ck limbs locked rigid. It sank like a boul

from both flanks,

ing Realm. The left hound's webbed claws raked toward my chest; I twisted aside and put a needle through the side

pot below - heavy jaws clampin

e lake. I made no sound at all, rolled with the beast's weight, a

eased me, and sank li

already knitting the torn flesh of my arm

heart

e steps, and two royal shadow guards in black plate ar

s will be executed on sight." T

across the water. And I watched her lift her head

esh of her shoulder, forcing herself through the gap between the two guards, scrambling

clutching the hem of the Grand Chancellor's robe, and in a voice

ague... we have the an

A single, sharp gesture-and the shadow guards froze mid-strik

ng to his robe. For a long, suspended momen

silk drapes - and the entire lake visibly sank half an in

uarded state secret. Only three people in the world knew the full truth: the Alpha King, two trust

had just spoken its exact nam

id not survive contact wi

cony like a monument as he stepped to the marble rail and lo

words?" The question fell on

f his presence. She still raised a trembling,

a Montoya... she has

t the base of his steps. His gaze slid past the trembling maidservant

d told me to look dow

my chin

air - and there was no terror in me. Only arit

erous moved be

ord in one slow, screeching pull and leveled

g pressure closed over the water was hi