ang wolves

m of their lives. And nothing was more unfamiliar than Aria St

fitted tunic, black trousers tucked into high leather

ng yard balcony, arms crosse

onin observed beside

ld," Kael

. "She's not a

shoul

d locked on her figure-graceful, proud,

et...

s the p

wrong about how ri

e caught him staring. He w

-

. Dozens of warriors paused their drills, sweat glis

ce was a d

love

han eighteen, stepped forward with a

warriors this talkative, or just the ones

ked, st

"Alright then.

t you'd n

a ring had for

ne whispered-lunged f

ed like a flame-fluid, unpr

of her wrist, sending his blade clattering to

she said

and applause, slapping Gregor on

ew voice

e the nex

owd st

ped into

meeting his gaze wi

with your warr

el said, drawing h

d slowly.

-

ed with a sound th

Brutal. A pre

ked, spun, parried-never backing

ound them hel

d left-Aria

k high-s

pride and power. The air crackled with heat. Not from the

blade graz

ssed-bu

holdin

don't want to scar my b

derate," s

by the waist, spun her, and s

essed to his chest, br

s low in her

art th

N

p, shoving him back ju

, the fight

etween them. Not r

hing

er again-mistaking ten

ed her, ste

lookers, and gave a slight bow. "Your king

xploded ar

aid no

, somethin

here to p

re to chal

elp him-he

-

the castle buz

Alpha and walked

Gregor on

flinch when Kae

ers, the warm water scented with lavender and moonfl

roven h

be ignored.

came at

Kael's blade nicked her s

is p

he

er thoughts by a knoc

ed, wrapping hers

a velvet-wrapped box. "

ed a brow

ed it on the table before l

Aria open

lay a

blade gleamed, freshly sharpened. A note rested beneath it, wri

wolf, you should carry a

red at t

she s

wasn't entirely

-

rations for the mat

elders demande

ng hands. When she asked why everyone was so tense, the woman stam

dryly, "maybe so

tradition of the Blackfangs that bound mates under both moon and b

eople nee

rned every cus

ng at the moonlight spilling throu

ding again,"

a Stormveil,"

," Ronin corrected. "

sco

"Have you thought

o bond," Ka

Ronin asked. "What if th

looke

he had

had bee

ended i

not risk

-

, Aria cou

et silent on cold stone. The moonlight poured through

library-massive, a

edge, running her fingers along worn spines,

't hear

lace," Kael said q

ed, start

any gh

d. "Do you believe

e in cons

ession unreadable. "You did

But I didn't come t

uiet of the library, moonl

e wanted to say something-

offered a

mony is t

kno

you r

said. "But

udied

onger than

And you're less heartl

two wolves in a den bui

th the quiet, somet