a scream trappe

n its knees in

Not beaten.

hammered as he fought the urge to shift. Claws split through his

rd through clenched te

His claws withdrew, lea

rang from the

n

ic

e ti

the stairwell, pale-faced and whispering. At the entrance hall, the royal advisor stood before the pa

f Queen

pressed his palm against the symbol and recoiled with a hiss. Silver light pulsed b

arply his heel skidd

r Majesty, the forbidden

e that had forced his wolf down had

him, reaching for his arm

away. "Wha

t the aw

neel." He seized

or, then back to Kieran. "Becau

l me what

d marks his fingers had left. "The council has k

erous

o help her conceive. They contained a

ed at her.

could beco

t pillar. Pain split his knuckles. "You let m

shook, though her chin remained lifted. "The council selected me to replace her. I ha

obbed. "You said you were chosen

er stomach. "The council intends to use

pieces locked together with a sickening click. "Why

s never infertile. If she bears a royal heir, the

crown placed on the table; the way she had looked at him as if he were alr

have I

a said, stepping closer. "The

You're speaking as

e i

melted from her cloak and pattered onto the stone floor. Eryndor followed

moonstone crown, standing before thousands of kneeling wolves. At her sid

sharp she pressed h

is

ack. "A prisoner from t

sn't an

ly one I can

e. A rider stumbled into the sanctuary, carrying the ro

stripped of your wolf and executed." The messenger swallow

hen she laughed once,

que

er's should

er. Silver light gathered in her eyes. The messenger flinche

declaration to the council. I'll

wh

e sanctuary altar. It was old, its moonstone fractured, but a pale glo

tion and crushed the parchment in his

e could stop her. In a side cor

ne," she whispered, "the c

small black vial in her gloved hand. "Make c

. She lifted her chin. Her reflection did the same-then its e

from beneat

awakened t

the altar. "

sed. "Now awa

e ceiling. Far below Moonspire, somethin

n

ic

e ti

ss, a man opened

as ret