ht of th

soft red cushion like

my glass. My face looke

painting rainbows on the walls so pret

expect". Councilor Ele

towards me. "Three pounds of

dy". I said, pressing m

n't even w

d the same thing on his coronation day. She

d you bring me here just t

ine. "I called because tomorrow, ever

encrest, the new

sank. "

our brother 's trial would spread very fas

r case. This one thing

things you need to kno

dges yellow and cracked. The wax seal loo

s it?"

olled the old paper. "Written when Queen A

looking at the faded words

e trade deals we still use." Elena pointed at the writin

jumped.

." Elena looked at me sharply. "

ran my finger t

o

ecoming an heir." "The alpha would be a king consort, he shared power but ca

eory".

entually. It's their nature". Elena's voice w

Captain Reynolds rushed in, his armor rattling.

ooking between me and Elena, "but there

pped the

ped?

"Killed two." Reynolds clenched his jaw. "He

rabbed the display ca

long

Highness," he's not just hiding." "Our tracke

Elena turned pale.

?" I asked, though part of

nals, exiles, and alpha are banned from

lena finishes. "An army w

se, three pounds of gold, a bur

he became a real threat,"

are already spreading rumors." "Some packs are saying

. "The mountain clans are worried

their worries. Three more packs agree wit

t me to s

y want you to prove you are

By marrying some alpha?

Queen," Elena said. "By

ly the sound of dripping

ng crown. "Tell me mo

Very stubborn. She told the Council th

er hus

ys obeyed her." Elena's smile faded. "Finding s

an in, out of breath. Your Hi

he scroll. His

ction." "They fear Kael will attack

ed, remembering he

so seek protection,"

w strength. "Tell Nightbr

lena protested. "I

eed to see that their future que

"Kael is gather

first." I touch the crown's glass. "

leave the castle lightly g

Elena. "Call all the pack's leaders t

hat's where Kael...Kille

t's time to take that pla

a nodded. "It's risky.

rown. Tomorrow I will be named heir. That's th

a needs to help Sarah Nightbreeze, re

weight didn't scare me. I would b

enger spoke again. "An uns

writing said: "The Winter Wolf remembe

cus Thronfield. Eve

s?" Elen

d the n

Very go

crown wasn't s