circular hall built of rough u

long cold shadows across the faces of

of the great hall, my han

rly brought the whole telepathic link network down," an elderly noble states in a frigid accusatory voice

rap, forcing me to c

with fear," I answe

map the hidden silver-net traps encircling Squad 5

h no proof," ano

r sharp icy gazes. "The crystal records every surge of magic

the crystal takes time. Until then

and turn to exit

the dim corridor, deep worry

"Tell them you are his fated mate. Under clan law, the Alpha's mat

remember the day K

ized its mate, overwhelmi

cent - deep forest mixed with the c

lood boiled hot. Unstoppable

ering soul belonged somewh

n my consciousness howl

ance, an electric tingle shot up my sp

ejected th

ritual. He never sank his fangs i

d on my merit as a spire warrior. I will not grovel for

k back to the manor. The metallic ta

f cheap malt ale and roasted meat washes over me. Th

feast for his narro

kards down on long oak tables. Rough boister

guests pouring wine, drinking in their drunken compliment

ss the hall unseen, but Kae

s to his second-in-command, "that careless delayed Guide wil

er with wolfish h

spot me standing

ere you last night?

and leans agai

e hall. "Her job is simply to sit comfortably high up in the

someone who cannot bear the sight of b

url into t

ruel torturous trials to e

power past breaking point until m

my honor medal, Kael wou

t in the woods hunting fo

the stairs. I can be

depart, I step out onto the dim g

up from the

ael and

er around?" Elara whines petul

ke calming aura. It is soothing to come home to. And she never causes troubl

nto me harder than

dess means nothing to him - merely a nic

room. My chest feels

irs to the study, hoping a boo

door sta

e great oak desk, his head

h a book from the shelf, when my eyes catc

rt on Grave Peril Caus

atches. I l

deliberately exaggerates enemy strength, claiming her hesitation put the warriors at the mercy of th

f the report sits a de

a's neat elegant

ed you three-fold. Paint this delay as deadly. We m

the note. Repressed

tongue raw to

rty seconds to disable the fatal silve

forty seconds into a web of l