A

usness, pulling me from sleep. I don't move. Not at first. My body is awak

oices-low, femi

rning, m

n my

r dark hair is pinned up, their lips painted red, their skin glistening with scented oils. One of the

up. Th

ath is

of cedar and crushed herbs lingers in the air. I step onto the cool marble, my feet soundless. My

g as he leans back. "Look who

s. "Took him

at seeps into your bones. The maids slip in after me, their hands moving over my skin, washing

me to reac

t there, unmoved. "Still no interest

both smirking, enjoying the attention t

s his head.

iplined." Then he tilts his head. "Or ma

fr

ins. "He

Kael, how could you forget? Today's

me like a fi

eyes, the way she faded into nothing while my father stood by, indiff

rstand at first, but I learned. I saw. While my mother lay in her chambers, too weak to lift her head, my father entertained

es that weren't hers. He never held her hand as the healers worked tirelessly to slow the disease eating away at her. He never sat by her side as she endur

a brief pause before life resumed as if she had never been there. And now, he dares to bring another woman in

my throat, but

him. It's abo

myself as the maids finish their work and help us dress. Gold-threaded tunics, po

er is already there. He doesn't look u

're

had to make sure we were well-prepa

ndulges, letting a girl press a grape to his lips. Roran leans into

don't need to be h

s short. Th

for me. Roran and Kieran talk, but I t

s before. They're always young

ill be no

-wrapped handle. If I could stop this, I would. But I can't. Not wi

fading into the distance. Our kingdom is strong, rich, built on centuries of conquest. Every building is

horne is

uieter. Le

her like they're afraid of being separated. But there's a beauty to it. Simple, unta

trong. That's why w

ny will take place. The room is large, but nothing compared to our own palaces. The walls

th the noblewomen, their words laced with flirt

I see

oving toward the c

her. The girl my father

shifts i

thing about her. The way she walks. Th

t look

poken, oaths exchanged. My father stands tall, unreadab

I give my daughter

ght

st tig

not the Alpha's own blood. This isn't just a politi

akes me

know it. My father isn't capa

ill protect her. Even if

, just a fraction, and for

en she

ody s

ting!" Some

he col

rything