icked open

the ceiling, my body still trembling from the humiliation of the feast. Th

e didn't speak. He didn't need to. His cold, calculating

p," he

dn't

to my feet. Pain exploded through my shoulders, my back, my

. Servants averted their eyes. Guards stared

Kael's warriors stood in a wide circle, their faces hungry with antici

a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to reveal the scars on

here," he

re feet slipping on the wet stone, but I caught

ip trailing behind him. "Do yo

said, my voice steady despite

"Wrong. You are here because last night, you defied me. You call

sed yourself,

blinding fire. I gasped, stumbling backward, my hand flying to

Kael watched me with

Every time you speak out of turn, you will bleed. Every time y

htly against his thigh. "Now. Let us beg

d at hi

voice hardened. "Tell

arely contained rage. "A kind man. He loved his pack

narrowed. "W

n fabric of my gown. I cried out, the sound torn from my throat,

He was weak. He trusted his heart instead of his instincts. He let

tears and hatred. "He was a better Al

skin tear. I screamed, my voice breaking, and collapsed fully onto the s

ck was weak. And that is why they are dead or e

arable-but from the truth of his words. My father had trusted too easil

loved. He had

spered, my

side me, his face close t

s not weak. He was brave. He was kind. And he was

s unreadable-cold, calculating, but with something else flic

nough for today," he said, his vo

ilent. Even Valeriu

us said carefully,

for," Kael snappe

weak to fight them. My body was a map of pain-my cheek split open, my back

It was barely tall enough for a man to stand, barely wide enough for a person to lie do

s al

corner, my knees drawn to my chest, my back pressed against the bars. My wounds had sto

hroat was raw. My stom

escent. I watched it move across the sky, counting the minu

ne c

s empty. Even Valerius had disappeared. I was alone-tr

when the real

dead or enslaved. My father was gone. My mother was a ghos

left me gasping for air. I wept for my father, for my pack, for the life I had lost. I we

now. Broken

as a hollow shell

stars appeared. T

, my body trembling. I had not eaten. Had not drunk. Ha

en-foo

lifted my head, my eyes strug

, his eyes dark and unreadabl

dy to submit

y voice was barely

t. Then, slowly, he unlocked t

there, you will die. Come out, and I wil

at his cold, unfeeling eyes. I thought of

I lifted my hand an

tle-surprisingly so. He carried me across the courtyard, through the castle

he said softly. "Y

e," I whispered, "

a long moment. The

hat is exactly what

e door. But before he left, he

Elara. It has only just

him. The lock clicked

time, I d

ime, I

Because I am a daughter of the moon. I am a

survi

y, I will