ess of the night. As though advising something was about to c

as a woman emerged from the trees. Tall. Gracious. Lethal. She was wrapped in a long wh

s to be the mate of the Alpha, her blood was pure, and her physique st

map in the war room when the smell stru

ok tired

and saw L

e was indifferent but rather because his hear

ng sweetness, "Aren't yo

sed. "You returned soo

ing down the council's recommendations. Denying the direction of th

reply, something c

. Lyra moved closer, her voic

ped up, but he

whispered Lyra, gazing

ck into disorder; you are not m

tall white horse from the small window of her room. Aria's inst

know her name, she thoug

ruth on her own. Darkness arrived with an odd quiet. Low to the ground, mist clung, and the g

dark hunter's attire, Lyra braided her hair tight and scanne

"Kael, where are

wooden stairs; even the floorboards seemed afraid to make a sound near her

d firmly. No watchmen. too doubtful. She fast approached and

esponded, "Kael,

lender knife from her belt, tiny enough to pick the lock with hardl

the shadows. He stopped, grimaced, sensing something was wrong, yet sa

re, little

ely in that room, she realized at last. And Ly

y. His Alpha impulses yelled, something was wrong. He sensed something that sh

uiet. Come

ute. Though she wanted to protest, Aria realized this was

hrough the stone corridors. They moved swiftly and quietly

ht on, you r

stif

your

e drapes and locking the windows,

he whole tower. Nobody enters

e could discern the worry under h

cause of her, L

omething other than wrath and terro

Last evening, I smelled

t her bo

... shouldn't you

is tone was low but

would have starte

oulmate." Letting you go wo

rified-all knotted in her chest-but one thing was clear for the

ck with a loud knock. Except for one man, no on

Open up.

white. Kael rose deliberately, jaw tight. He did not immed

not budge or c

cracked the door. Lyra stood there wearing complete combat

ut permission, she add

speculating: why did I detect a huma

etween her and the

a grinned sharply. "Sure? Or are you simply hid

her eyes scanned the space a

yra's path. "This s

I was; this room

er chin. "But it wasn't, and it never will

nding. "If you enter this room without my permis

next. But it was the k

eave for now. But bear

e of a human... I wo

. The door slammed shut behind her. Still, the danger li

know

"Yes. And from this point on, s