r like spilled ink across the forest ground. Every footstep felt heavier than the last. The ec

d her more than any threat the vampire court could of

rase the scent trail she'd left behind. It wouldn't be enough to fool someone li

the oute

meant to follow Ronan, but when the pack's second-in-command started wandering

e had stood only minutes before

eaving through the trees back toward the camp. He needed to th

onous. His eyes burned with quiet fury as he replayed every word Selen

g something,

shape of her thoughts, the soft tremble o

armoire against the wall, revealing a velvet-lined drawer full of aged scrolls and rel

uth, he thought coldly, t

name, an old nam

shadows

ght, in the w

s the wind tangled through his hair. His thoughts were a warzone. He didn't

e hell you're doing?" Riven

. "I could ask yo

llowe

d. "Of cour

ampire-she's court-blooded. Do you real

es meeting Riven's. "I k

to fists. "Then why are

Wind. The soft howl

oice low and steady. "Beca

, stunned. "You're

thing's happening, Riven. She doesn't want war. And I t

cted. "You think one vamp

e's already

way. But when he finally sp

get you

aid. "But so wil

e corridors were cold

the carved wall as if it might ground her. She should've gone straight to her chamb

than in the hallway. "I shouldn't have gone back to him." But s

.. I can

that separated the Vale from the werewolf territories. The moon had begun to

efield anymore. It felt like a tether, a

ow and tried to breathe. But everything inside her was frayi

a pawn in this ancient game, and the worst part? I wanted him to." She turned f

tching her.

He hated the wolves with reason. He'd lost people to them,

, the long lectures about honor and vengeance and blood ties-he

an's w

est when she realized

behind her. The fire was low, casting flickers of light across the walls. She walked

tween love and betrayal isn't a line at all. It's a blur, a storm, a breath

ed at the fire until her vision blurred. And then,

we doing

was no

eartbeat and the distan