were even colder

nobles whispered and pointed. I'd never been in this section of the palace before. Everything shone with wealth I co

ll clad in my servant's robe with wine spills, as the

the window, his back to me, rigid and silent. Even from across the room, I could fe

packhouse, always standing beside the king. "The Moon Goddess doesn't make mist

. "This thing is cursed. Born beneath the blood moon. Her mother died in disgrace. She has no status, no upbringing, no blood wort

of my birth, but words died on my lips. What could I say? Everything she'd listed was tru

s she'll either save us or destroy us. That leaves

, the head of the noble council. "The risk is too great. The king's duty is to the kingd

if my entire being wasn't screaming for the man who still hadn't

do. The kingdom needs a strong Luna. A proper queen of noble blood who can sit beside you wit

a poison. My wolf whimpered inside m

clenched at his sides. When he finally spoke

y...." Serap

tore through the

d worries. Kael was the last to go, and he caught my eye briefly. S

was quiet, aside f

r eyes that seemed to see right through me. A mouth set in a hard line. He loo

name?" he a

was little more

s voice sent shivers down my back. The bon

trusting mys

ussing the weather, remote and clinical. "The prophecy is explicit. You are a threat to everything I have built, ev

to say. "Or the kingdom. I don't wan

at I want is irrelevant. Only the kingdom is relevant. Only the prop

them fall. I had survived eighteen years of abuse and

ore it's fully formed. It will cause pain, but you'll survive. We both will. And then you'll leave Silvercrown territory. I'll

e could bribe me in

he words escaped bef

this kingdom, about the innocent lives that would be lost if the pr

piness for people who'd never been nice to me. And the worst thing about it was that I understood. I'd seen t

" I br

strength is at its lowest." He faced me again, and for a