A

alls, the hall e

heir words tangled in confusion. Varethorne warriors shift on their feet, tense a

irst to move. His face twists in concern,

er to the upper

motionless on the stone floor, her veil slipping just enou

too

hands. But my father, Alpha Zareth, is already furious

he bellows. "A mocker

naps to him. "She's ill. Or a

id? You think I would t

craping something raw inside

isn't

y, but I can't

the carved archway, and before I know wh

laced with amusement, his hand grabbing my arm.

ke hi

ll me you actually c

on't have the words for this

't just

g sharper. So

now if she'

lent against the worn stairs. The upper chambers are dimly lit

me trailing them. One stops. "

vering. "My father sent me. To

but they don

s before nodding. "Fine.

ep i

th. They lay her on a wide bed, thick furs piled beneath her

inally

utiful creature I'v

l and tinted with the faintest shade of rose. Her dark lashes rest against her cheeks, so thick they cast

't br

e my chest, something

i

comes unbidd

elf to take

know t

et...

eam at me to protect her, to claim her, to shield

tch

her. Her fingers curl into the sheets

something in

I don't speak.

as Gangedi, draped in thick robes that smell of dried herbs and oi

collapsed like that.

ning up,"

ask, more to my

morning," a guard rep

I ask before I

me, studying me in

But whatever plagues h

nes her, wipes her forehead with a cloth drenched in herb

eep watc

pass. Th

, a soft noise e

ly-her lash

I can't help the ex

ale s

eyes

like rich earth after rain, like

locks o

first time

m the one who h