AR

e friends, right?" That voice stopp

k was to us, and I watched him over Dominus's shoulder. Ever since a guard had announced that someone claimin

is arm so it wouldn't fall. My breath hitched. There was something mesmerizing about him. His brow arc

, shifting uneasily and gl

us's voice sliced through the

rouble. They just weren't cooperating. No clue how

. The guard held back a scream a

ion back to Dominus. My lungs remembered to breathe, but only just. His vo

't know how things are done where you come from, but in this house

family. Blood relatives," the man replie

oing here, Dekl

missed you, Uncle. How could I go another year without s

hat do you want?

ke he was drinking it in. There was deep, ugly hatred in his eyes. Not fear.

t under his skin, and he thrived on it. Dominus couldn't break him, and

see where this was headed, even if I didn't know the details. Still standing behind Do

ome back, you'll know. And maybe then I'll have decided wh

e looked at Dominus. It was the danger. The kind of danger you shouldn't want, but you do a

ime, don't shut your doors on me. It's rude," he

ike that,

r his breath, marching to the shelf

o drown whatever rage Deklan had stirred up and went back upstairs to change. My pl

.

full

e and went, and I didn't shift. That was two years ago.

ould be devastated if they were alive to see this. They were two of the stro

to be carefully planned. They used his strength against him. They knew he co

he would have ripped out thei

to be Dominus's nephew. He reminded me that the full moon was co

is time locked in his office, calls, meetings, whispering wi

ly free, a guard always trailed behind me. But I felt safer, stra

exist. And weirdly, that didn't bother me. What did bother me was how oft

prayer to the moon goddess, with every ounce of faith I could muster, s

set the glass on the dining table

he table to steady myself but stumbled forwar

it feel like the floor

eeting a private investigator, the one I'd secretly hired to look into my fa

t

a mistake? W

d to be someth

nting to focus. The room tilted, and I couldn't get

" A familiar voice floated through the haze

g went dark. I

Don't let it swallow you or you'll lose everyth

owled insi

had aw