that

ion was a

across the hall,

shthorne asked that questio

asp

eyes were f

have avert

cked my head lik

knowing why the strongest Alpha in the kingdom was lookin

m got bet

pha Kael," she said smoothly. "She's only a serv

erv

so easily fro

ed at t

't have be

heard

t in front of strangers m

ve. "I wasn't

appeared at h

as as stil

. His polished boots ech

'Who i

o the edge of her gown. "My.

expensive suit was perfect, but the nervous sheen on his forehead betrayed

reeting with a slig

llowed Ka

range expression

rustr

sha

ed, but he recovered quickly. S

s grew

her

wenty years and I never hea

Victor's face a

at in

neasily under tha

Kael spoke. "

were telling me t

Marcy spun around shar

st painful. "Come

cest thing she

more than her

stairs, my hands clenched

tom and stopped

d politely. "G

respond

stare

y loo

habby d

patched

m

tensely, as if he were trying to rem

trange and it mad

know

o

membered a

illed the room

ven standing still. "You've

oice

sev

"For ho

I don'

aughed t

was a lit

t him. "Was I

ile faded.

to me. "You go to

my hea

ing?"

oon Fe

of the head.

d between his brows

never ha

read around us among

scowled. 'Ho

dren are

hispered:

d, cutting off the thought b

s eyes hardened. "You've never been outsid

t the estate?

was a bit

ars o

gates might as well ha

explain, embarrassment be

ranger to know how sm

at overlooked the gardens. "You've

not a q

smile. "I guess

k to me. "Nobody sho

frozen somewh

r said anything

fo

t

eak a servant hur

s for d

hroat. Thank goodnes

our conversation

or a heartbeat longer, the

e room bre

into the dining room and I

I van

uests

died

he way it

itchen, when a deep vo

nced

steps away. "

ion stunne

nervously. "Oh, Alp

d Lyra,

are

ords hung

ure I'd misunderst

ver ate wi

you're on you

. "Alpha, she's not properly educated. She won't kno

had enough weight to mute the

y looked as if she was

orced another

, the warmth in

hange you

ed like

was

a warni

and ran

me and leaned against it, tryin

as goi

el enquire

ou ask me

g was

ttle wooden che

re only t

ne I

s my mother's once--or at least, the

d it ou

lt a little

azing the crescent-shaped bir

rief mo

rk was

pain

st...

cow

it, there was a loud cra

were s

of horn, wa

on

re

d every drop of

echoed wit

shouted f

d to the

curling up above

e rushing

en I s

ouring through the broke

llowed words that lingered over t

h chilling urgency. "

art l

who they were

it, but a cold certaint

looking for

ere lo

for