ra

ove a testament to a past that now felt like a lead weight in my lap. I ha

riors, had looked upon my birth

r resources, their hopes for the futu

Beta from birth; I was but the

nt beneath a sliver of moon, my tears watering

night I

ck, and our collision near the gardens was

s reveals a Fated Mate, was not a gentle da

resh-fallen rain and the deep, sharp tang of pine-f

ery blood to boiling, my heart hammerin

f my being, the quiet assurance of a ship

caged let out a possessive roar th

she

t, sharp and electric, shot from the poin

a boy, but

ed to General Arthur, a formidable Ga

completed the M

e crook of my neck, leaving a permanent, silver

that happiness was, at las

borders to quell an uprising of Rogues-the dang

the Gamma estate, became the c

manded I go a

and the pregnancy had le

stook for protection, of

Arthur," he had promised, his lips

duty and devotion blu

gil outside her chamber door, his eyes glowing with a feveri

re born, something in Caleb

children with a

t brilliant jewels from the treasury, a

ived the

minion had gifted a protective

ur skin, this was royal silver, blessed by t

epted the ro

laced it around the neck

Caleb had merely

o my hands, it will be yours, Aria. I gi

the snow

e castle bells tolled midnight

s, whispering his name in

passed Caleb's study, I over

"Have it fashioned into two cloaks for the Gamma'

vy door open, my pro

mised it

ot deign to

s. Serena's girls are delicate," he

rs tugged at my sleeve, pulling me from the past

de with a faint confus

our cheeks wet?"

face, forcing a smi

e," I lied. "I am onl

eyes, a new and terrible

ed in their depths-the living pre

searched that empty gaze. Our daughter's spirit had sur