vin

ttling as if he could see through every wall I'd b

, his voice quiet but unrelenting. "Who

assian's mark. My stomach clenched. I'd known this would be a problem, that it would betray

ak from the story I'd

cracking, the lie tasting bitter on my t

would shield me. He watched me in silence, unreadable as stone, then

rled in

ut the money in that bag. He knew that. He held

irm. "I hope you'll trust me enough to be honest. I don't make a habit of l

behind nothing but silence a

r face bore the wisdom of age, though her

she said, le

was nothing

felt like a home not a fortress. Not a prison of polished s

n, inviting. A bed with fresh linens. A

e dining hall," she informed me. "Alpha

no kindness either. I nodded, grate

the question: Why would Alpha Mal

A tactic? A trap di

hat a girl in a quiet village might wear breezy, pale, innocen

omfor

e fabric didn't match the storm inside me. I l

it wer

sed, maybe, or just caught off guard. She di

ed in s

the head of the table, posture composed, aura unyielding.

htened. What

ral mask, tamping down the n

sure you're hungry," he sai

g myself carefull

he woman. She gave a respectful bow before

said simply, noddi

lite. Hunger gnawed too v

myself. I tried to keep composed, but I was too s

more. Not after the things I'd endured. If this mea

done... if you'd fo

s an edge beneath it like the c

ted chicken in my hand suddenly weighed

earlier interrogation. The corner of his mouth cur

till fixed on me. I wiped my lips

kery," I answered trut

in to the mark at my neck. His ey

d. "But only if you swear that whatever you're

n. The words didn't feel li

cond chance, Dravina. I'll give it to

throat. I sat straighte

?" I asked but

, fluid and silen

ation. No

aybe a test left be

more afraid. My mind turned over his words again

ong after, her face a

, elegant. It felt like a guest s

me whole. The furnishings were ta

ou to feel at ease he

nto silence. What d

unable to relax. Everything in this room was

ss

hing? Was his fury b

Malrik's warn

ould I pr

re would be no avoiding

my face, dread curli

prison, but I wa

d do now..