rd, though their relief at the empty bowl was plain on their faces. Ten minutes late

cloth, rinsed it clean, and patted her dry with towels warmed by the fire. The water carried a faint floral scent, some herb she could not

d Alpha of Frostveil kept a bleeding stranger within his own east wing, guarded by his own trusted soldiers and fed from his own kitchens. Their eyes strayed to her hands, her hair, the w

gown. They dressed her in near silence and departed as quietly as they had come. The chamber sti

bric were air. Frostveil's chill was no mere winter that outsiders could turn aside with warm clothes. It was a sovereign of its own, and it was the

d sleep when the door opened, a

the fine fabric slipping from his shoulders. The firelight caught the dark silk and softened

Her frown was harsh and her

t haste, and only when he reached it did he speak, his tone flat

r a response, the mattress dipping unde

ple. Why would he want to share a bed with her? Still, whate

dge of the blanket and the sharp line of his jaw where he lay beside her, then retreating as the flame guttered low. It was the only warm thing in the chamber, the only

f toward the far edge of the mattress, putting as much distance

mocking. "Doors, walls, the whole width of this b

uld be afraid." she said, sco

e y

" Estella

hing more, and

ind that silence she allowed her im

is face... His voice finally breaking as hers had broken in the snow, begging her for his life, begging for mercy. A mercy she had no intention of granting. She pictured

to pass soon. I just

he took it anyway. There

o watch him, to see whether he was scheming, and perha

her before an hour had passed, drawing her eyes shut no matter how hard she fought it. She hated that her

her face, his own expression empty. After a while, he clo

--

had gone cold and still around her, though her werewolf eyes could still make out every shape in the dark. For a mome

e turned her head slowly, wary of even that small motion. He lay on his back, both hands resting on his toned midriff. She watched him for a long moment, searching

was her chance, and perhaps th

elf to the far edge of the bed, since it left more distance to cross, but that did not matter now. Her golden eyes glowed, like a fox in

riking range, and her s

aze climbed higher, and for the first time she saw Adrian's face up close while she wasn't in battle with him. She could not deny this man's beauty. He was handsome, exceedingly so. His silver

stella Montharne. She was

y he had to

imagined a dozen ways to end this man's life since the day they first met, and now the moment had come. There was no hesitation at t

im, her claws catching the

he st