, all muscle and rage, its fangs gleam

o scream before Luci

was a man, the

it. Darkness spilled around him like smoke and then the alpha stood in his place.

ade was sh

ald streaks that pulsed under his fur like tattoos come

y collided wi

ugh flesh. Growls echoed throu

rying to escape my chest. My hands were tr

hing stran

broke from

ts glowing r

azes

rtbeat, the w

ulse deep in my chest. Like a

t flared be

ion fl

th

am

its fur catching fire from a bla

nd ended it with a vic

went dea

rled in

fted li

down at

l gl

l bu

hell?" I

g. His skin was streaked with bloo

dline just

uman. But his green eyes were wide wi

refully, "you just

at my pal

h marks on the floor were rea

flamethr

ucian said, stepping cl

most burned d

otions. Your bloodline Blackthorn was known for ele

ed twenty-one

. "And the seals a

idn't ask for this. I just wanted answers

nymore," Lucian said. "The

I should jus

make it pas

stopp

e of th

her look with Kade. T

moment your power woke up, a signa

mea

now," Kade said, voice soft. "The

ming

ou

d turne

wly, "that someone's going to c

k. "It's more comp

sounds exactly lik

rp breath. "She's n

s active. Every unmated alpha from here to the Northern Range

one to crack a grin and say it was all

trials are we

"Combat. Endurance. Dominance. Ev

I echoed. "Like,

. "Until only one

nt c

no. That's

aid tightly. "Old as

ng trophy! I don't

tepping closer. "That's

eath

ha

you as just a power boost. I don't care what blo

rt stu

like ice. "You're b

yed by your

er now an invisible line of

ey. No growling conte

was pain in their gazes. History. Somet

I felt i

," I said, voice barely

ropped. Lucia

Lucian

hesit

softl

hat followed

red at him

serves

born during the Red Eclipse. A night of prophecy. War was

.. what? Romeo an

twitched. "

re born, the seers named you the Luna of Fate. The one

hings went grea

fore the prophecy could unfold. Your mother... she sacrificed hers

y I don't

iped your early memories.

e said simply. "Befo

nearly

uldn't fi

re gone. We thought you wer

just... back?

hand. "You never l

at his touch unl

memory. But

der a blood-red sky. One with storm-blue eyes, fierce and

ck. "No. That'

it

isions. They were

ed closer. "

n't a

t hav

e said ev

up," Lucian said. "And s

.. b

our fat

d which one

l between us lik

s lips

him to it. "

was w

, so mu

mate... but we won't know until what? I

to a murmur. "It's usua

h

urse

you both and see which o

of the

s answer

e at all,"

d

split t

o

os

itely not

fened. "The

ils flared.

d to the wi

d, eyes

he roya

thing in the air shifted. Dense. Electric

ough the cra

ies larger than anything natural. Behind them came figures on foot, dr

y sh

gently but firmly. "

Your Highness," Kade muttered, baring hi

ng," Lucian said. "And now they wa

de growled. "They

yet, and now I had royal wolves doing a pop-up out

they want

for the first time since I m

nt to as

ed. "As

e the true Blackthorn

ot to be

if they decide you're t

ou," Lucian fin

room

s back and bump

na of Fate' or tomorro

a whisper only I could h

lready moving toward the

m," Lucia

the pr

off and start a dominance battle (again), I

ir slapped

the most terrifyingly beau

loak billowing behind her like smoke. Her eyes p

wasn't

grown,"

d say thanks, but I d

ad, and two guards flan

ale. And you, my dear... ar

ide me. "She's und

"Your claim hasn'

lidation to prot

y p

st say wh

sharpened. "Still

moved. "And you. Always lingering in

aid no

and the air around him

said, brushing past them like she owned t

ont of me. Stared

he reac

lin

led low in

d, she held her palm up. A soft

htened, like the moon

light e

of magic so intense it burn

d back, her expr

Lucian d

ed," Seraphin

exh

ine added, "s

lse j

that mean

and calculation, "you will need guidance. Training. Control. With

bitterly, "you just happen

h her eyes. "The pala

inter

rials begin in seven nights. And if you'

e hadn't just threatened to toss me into a dea

dn't say

er di

hine's words sinking

n ni

efore this bloodline dragged

my h

throne I n

n't even the

alked back inside and caught

e

second gl