like the land wasn't su

they didn't speak. They didn't bow, either. I wasn't here as Luna not rea

through

wasn't lik

il bled quiet power. Its trees bent low but didn't crack. The buildings were dark-stained wood and black

he edge of som

sure I belong

lly told me, was Corin. He was Kael's third. Not Beta. Not co

" I asked after passing the fifth pe

dn't

t expec

old barracks, past a half-burned shrine, up a narrow hill that

t of a door built direc

arters,"

was pl

he Alpha does not

ing else, he handed me a

hen the contract is sealed

are. "Not for

sharp nod and

on the stone ledge that passed for a bed. A black tunic h

wall, a silver bowl, a bla

as alread

was

Dre

ure line and felt a sting-like t

hit the

ared behind

per than Ashf

n't s

into the edge of the sto

into skin still raw, still a

eyes. A low hum in my bones. Someth

ng, the scent of pine and

d passed b

ed it, the corr

rning, I wa

a quiet voice o

pha is

now what I

wasn'

the walls. No advisors hovered near the head table. Ju

t turn r

," he

d. "Alpha

ow. Controlled.

derstand t

es

tend to br

N

tur

ifulnot in the way Cian wa

that had walked too l

oused from war. A gaze that felt like

r than I expec

eter than I

Not quite a smile.

ented to the co

ted?" I

see what they'

"Is that all

almly. "You're

hought I was

er. "You are. U

n't f

k that sur

ave, and I left without

ped outside, the

ar

dless, but I heard thunde

d me, I swore I hea

to

somethi

esn't k

ning, I

more wild. Paths disappeared into trees. Stone marke

oneetched with a cre

hed it, the

emo

Not

n a voice I

nbou

ast, heart

one was

single item had bee

reat. No

eck

th a pendant in the sh

k, engraved in

been her

t it for a

ped foot in Stor

s a c

as a

unti

d

of me wasn

ndant beside me, unabl

ence carried voices I couldn't place. And in the edge of my dreami

eyes li

fire in h

t never tur

d for them, t

voice

emembers wha

with

pendant