eb

pends the huge palace resources just to create a fantas

me set of people with the Lycan males' usual gro

r and familiar at the same time. I kept wondering if the chefs had come up

stopped by Minister Lakewood, who m

e you," he said while bowing expansively.

and I was hoping I could invite you as a chief guest to r

g his event if it were reasonable, but it was obvious he wanted t

nger. Not bothering to give him the plea

d work magic on my dampened mood. I followed the scent; it was warm

se led me

hu

n

ragile, or is she just wolfless?

t his head in interest; that alone m

a human sm

Her hands were steady, though her pulse beat too fast at her throat. She had looke

but with measure, like someone who

low sound in my chest

o

hought down

reathless instant, something aligned with me; a pressure I was not aware of sn

I stopped walking, bloc

n stops; the Lycans could

t speak to her, b

ou

nsed, but she di

humans. Her head still lowered, she answered, her

here. I wondered which pack she came from. This is th

t of her is inviting; s

e new,

itchens, Your High

d, curious now, sniffi

but still unusual. She is

input withou

ngs that have recently healed. I felt raw anger go through me a

ouche

hits deep

s, low and

r space deliberately. She sways but hol

k at

hesi

fear girl, but she o

sharp, breath-stealing click in my chest; it felt like pu

from other females; it's searching, as if she wer

ore I could say anything else, my mo

al

ediately. I forced myself to breath

is nothing, just a human

me," I say flat

quick shift in her sharp eyes that always misse

lly st

emains, clinging to my skin as I

spiced the occasion en

nister Lakewood approach, trying to form alliances. My mother smiles and maneuvers, her

od was passable. I had raised my expectati

ss. "We need to see that girl again," he kept sayi

ike olives after rain? We

't an

balcony. The cool night air washes over me, grounding. The pa

uman girl had disrupted my equilibri

but her scent l