asoned warriors. Arielle stepped into the open field with the stiffness of someone who still hadn

arms crossed over his chest like slabs of iron. His gray eyes pinned h

nce or fear. Maybe both. Her body ached from yesterday's brutal drills, bruises

the towering male who stepped from the crowd. A scar traced his

staff. "Try not to embar

ipping it too tightly yesterday. But she squared her stance, remembering ho

tered. "You don't survive with hope and h

wood cracking against his with a jarring force that rattled through her bo

t, pain flashing across her ri

aelen calle

e of crimson she wiped with the back of her hand. J

stinct override thought. Their staffs collided again, but she he

Moving with more fluidity. For a moment, something

falt

efest moment before she slammed the butt of her

d. The cro

the silence. "That's the differen

gain. By the end of the hour, even Jarek was breathing hard. He didn't

the group but bec

said without pream

d at him.

s turning sharper. You're not just f

don't know what I felt.

is your birthright clawing to the surface. You were

y. Her heart pounded from

"There's somethin

ler, the stone walls narrowing into a spiraling staircase that seemed carved from the mountain itself. At the

ring light over ancient murals painted in bloodred and gold. Wolves with crowns. Wars

d closer,

eside her. "Your grandmother. The las

ielle whispered, her fi

gn. They said her howl could stop the

caught. "What h

er power," he said darkly. "The thr

ng. "But I... I don't know anything

y of us expected. It's in your b

t an ornate box. Inside was a pendant-simple, sil

e said, fastening it around he

nt it touched her skin, something stirred deep i

ed. "What

en said. "That's good. You'l

terrupted them. One of

rived from the Bloo

s breath

aw clenche

would

. "Or suspects. He always

o see him," she

"But next time you face him... you won't

grandmother. The crown painted on her br

oom was cold

f pendant burning against her chest as if warning her of what was to c

ade Bla

ma

betr

d-shouldered, his obsidian-black hair tied at the nape, jaw clenched as though war

died on

e though

ked his surpr

voice hadn't changed-it was still low, dangerous, laced with Al

blood and bruises. Her hair, once a mess of disobedient curls, was pulled back in a braid that exposed her scarred

?" she asked Kaelen wi

ne. "He requested an audien

yebrow. "The Ki

"I came because rumors reached us. A

ped, her eyes flashin

just for a moment.

oor. "You made a decision. In front of the entire pack. You rejected me an

t and raw. "That's what I saw. A mistake

re. Why? To take me back? To lay clai

elen's sharp glare. "I didn't know w

powerful enough, royal enough, useful enough, the

mean it

n't

to fists at his sid

this," she said softly. "You

ad stretched between them. Kaelen watched

ant, Kade?" sh

to prote

"You had your chance. And now you think you get t

are forces moving against the throne-against you. Alliances forming.

ted. "Is th

flinch. "It'

d, voice low. "And I don't need

just realized he'd watched a wildfire bloom-to

"Your power is new. You don't know

he

ng Pack is rallying. Old enemies of the King. And

hey fear me?

dable flickering in his eyes. "Beca

lse th

You've delivered your mes

ll once more to Arielle, softer now. "I know you won't f

won

slightly. "Then

otsteps vanished down the corridor and the

caugh

, steadying her

thed. "I thought I could f

breaking again?" h

nking back the

's not weakness, Arielle. That's

. "Do you believe hi

ade is not a fool. If he risked coming here,

eed to be

"We'll train ha

e said.

allest smile she'd ever seen fro

tood in the training yard again-barefoot, breathless, facing Kaelen

coul

ne wanted her dead-not because she wa

s finally becoming wh

orgotte

e to a cr

weapon. A storm

never be dis