a's

ith Silverhollow

fill with activity, tailors rushing through

w, the silver wolf of Viremont intertwine

with movements sharp and precise as if pre

hours choosing flowers and tasting cakes and practicing my smiles, be

t like another chain tig

me. "Breakfast is ready. Your father has r

e window. "Tell him I

ing with concern. "My lady, you

mitted. "I

s I took one last look at the courtyard, at the smiling faces a

ng tables, their voices overlapping in excited conversation while servants moved between them

anticipation, while Caius sat to his right, calm and composed.

d a cup of tea from a serv

voice was warm. "I

icularly.

excitement is what's keeping you awake.

for what?

to make the announcement within the next few days. The sooner w

y teacup. "W

s silk. "Delaying the announcement could be int

ision between Viremont and Valkrynd, and they need t

is?" I asked. "A

wed, "I don't under

e or about projecting power, because

s on me, watching, waiting, as my fathe

this alliance has always been about peace

. They're n

d stood. "Father, may I s

cern before he nodded slowly. "If you'll excuse us," he

g sun as I paced the length of the room with my hands clasped behind my ba

. What is this

faced him. "Can the a

hat followed

voice was sharp. "Why wo

o know if I have

y face, then sighed and leaned back in his chair. "The alli

sequences

aiting for this alliance to fail, and they've been watching our borders for months

d they do?

Border clashes, raids on supply

strong," I

erritories alone. If the Valkrynd Dominion w

settle on my shoulders. "So the

Dominion is the most powerful force in the werewolf world, and an alliance with them prot

ome their pup

ust be Luna of the Valkrynd Dominion, you'll be the bridge between our packs, and you

't want to be a bridge,

a title, it's about responsibility, about making difficult choices that affect t

you. But I need you to understand what's at stake. If you walk away from this alliance, people will die.

t? What happens

piness, but marriage between Alphas is rarely about happiness, it's

lled by the thought of marriage to an Alpha King, how I hadn't thought about duty o

r decades, the impossible choices he had made, the p

," I said quietly. "I

"Take all the time

ers in full bloom with colors bright against the green grass, bees buzzing lazily amo

ul but it felt

y Al

he garden, dressed in simple black with his dark hai

I bowed slightly. "W

ou privately." He stepped clo

distance, to protect myself, but I remembered my father's words ab

ed through the garden together, the sile

us said finally. "Since I arr

erent

He stopped walking and turned to face me. "Have I done

ed awa

flinch every time

d Nysera's confession and the night I died, but the words wouldn't come.

oice was sharp.

say it was

can see it in your eyes, Alora. There's something you're not tellin

read my eyes? You don't know me, Caiu

ay before he could touch me. "Please...Whatever I've done, what

aid those exact words, give me a chance to prove you wrong, and I had be

pretend that everything is fine. I can't

u mean? Wha

't tell you because I'm

..." h

ng back. "Just leave me a

kered in his storm-gray eyes, then he spoke quietly. "Whatev

ring at the spot where he had disappeared, his concern feeling sincere

m me, or had he been hiding

, and that terrified

d me in my chambers,

said gently. "Lost in thought and dis

hing, yet nothing. Honestly,

the Alpha Kin

it," I

ther part?

can't explain it,

e known you since we were children, I've never seen you like this. Wh

my voice cracking.

me from what

ct that she had died in my previous life. "Nothing," I said quietly. "Just be

d. "My lady, yo

red, because something is coming, something te

ith the only light coming from the dying fire in the hearth, and

e my eyes without seeing Nysera's smil

nd around the hilt of my dagger, small but sh

not

ntil I understood what was happeni

as silent.

I could feel it in my bones, but the curtains were still, the fu

against the floor as I moved toward the windo

's when

ing behind t