Bride of Blood and moonlight

the edge of the Blackfang border, his sharp gray eyes locked on the horizon. His warrior

what the lette

omises about as muc

arriage wheels tearing through the frostbitten dirt. The early spring wind howled through the trees, tugging at h

k when the guards dismounted. But when the door creaked

Storm

er her shoulders like a waterfall of defiance. Her chin was tilted high, her

eyes

olf in hi

ger. Not

hall

, then turned to him as if he were no more impo

ng I'm to marry?" she sai

ou must be the brat who th

tension between them c

rf

resist. It would make th

forward behind his daughter, flanked by his wolves. His

let's not waste time pretending

toward his daughter. "My daughter. Your future

s pressed into a hard line. Kael

got was

ention," she said sharply. "This is a p

l. The

omething stir b

ira

his marriage was strateg

in him watched

ng with respect," Kael s

ced into a cage," she shot back.

ous sile

turned o

low

if she obeyed. The guards p

s. The warriors glanced at her with thinly veiled curiosity-some hostile, others

h, toward the heart of Blackfang territory. The air grew cold

she asked eventually

idn't

"Silent brooding. Cl

ted on enemies. And she was still an ene

f Nightborne Keep came into view-its spires scraping the sky, i

beat, she s

herself, "It's

"This is not a place for beau

which am I to you, Kae

name was deli

ence tower over her. "Neither. You'

t's make one thing clear, Alpha. I might be a pa

nto something like a

-

castle was qui

spread before him, candles flickering in the dim light

at we expecte

," Kael muttered.

. "Vipers don't usu

a warning gl

your wolves are watching. The council is watching. I

s an e

your Lu

aid no

ting ceremony must be held within the first

s feet. "It's n

d be," Ronin

I had a true mate once. She died for

e never did when Kael

e was thick. H

d away fro

l watch. Le

not lov

-

out at the forest below. The moon was rising, p

ed the castle to

t a cold, vast room with tower

oner, but she m

he refus

e pact. She was the youngest of four daughters, the only one

ted Kael Nightborne to be so-

s, was he so

and turned from the w

ingdom respect her. She would not fade into the shad

s a St

e didn

-

ing, the coun

neath his chin. Aria entered beside him, her back straight, dre

red among themselves, su

a seat beside Kael. "If I'm to be your Lun

long glance. "You as

eak l

lders s

jaw t

stern border. Aria listened, silent and observant, until one of the elders mentioned a

d slammed

an't d

oom s

blinked. "

Mooncrest land without protocol. That'

row. "You speak

am

er reluctantly. "If we overstep so

composed. "Glad someone h

hed her,

s the elders filed o

rprised

't tryi

you

, King?" she asked, v

idn't

the trut

d both

an she