dragged away, the

the

every

re the w

, panic and fury twisting the

in shallow, uneven breaths. Gloria Jay knelt besid

red desperately. "S

ision

d felt..

le

pt

the familiar blaze of dominance,

was no

llow st

ough him, sharp

el my power

ia f

ghtened agains

e elders exchan

, his ancient face carved from s

fell deat

rek said darkly. "The omega has s

e surged thro

ossi

ga can

a mon

rait

ing with unfamiliar weakness. Guards rush

she?" he

lied. "She is to be held

wan snapped. "

oldly. "Assault on the Alpha K

it on purpose,"

arp look. "Rowan, sh

" he said hoarsely.

not excuse catastrophe. Her existence n

enched h

ands

eft him exposed, vulnerable

ack could

ty, the subtle pull of uncertainty

inued. "Word will spread. Other pa

her gown. Her eyes glittered with

ad snapped

sharply. "She humiliated our throne. If

mate," he

d out before he

ll exp

oc

tr

bel

ed back a step

she br

ed his eye

aid quietly. "I rejecte

slamme

, long and hard. "Then you

s eyes. "What a

gravely, "and she holds your dominance,

ous murm

ld comma

ould r

mega

nd ugly cut thro

d. "She will never

burned

something cold tw

ery certain

ck," Gloria replied smo

floor. "The council will convene immediatel

?" Rowan

was merciless

ruck Rowan

e said

us," Marrek snapped. "Without your do

n fr

hit him

already te

ripping hi

aw. "Then I chall

e gasp fill

n said sharply. "No

tch

ng slightly before regaining his balanc

gaze was

he said, "you condemn

" Marrek

d. "If she dies, it dies with her.

ers sti

nged eve

pha p

com

ified

ao

s widened. "

sh I

silenc

lowly. "Then she becom

essential," R

troyed before she dest

ted, voices cla

st be s

st be k

t be con

and helplessness knot

about her as if

a pe

l who had collapsed i

rvin raised

oug

all s

ecution," he anno

est loosen

And should she display the slightest threat, the exe

lips ti

briefly, relief and dr

n the cold depths of th

t into he

rough every in

ad thr

d where the ru

, breath hitching as mem

wa

po

fa

s we

d inward,

o," she whispere

adows

voice a

kn

fr

art ha

ere?" she

ir ri

ormed before her-an ancient w

re said gently. "And the la

breath

.. k

tudying her with something da

pered. "And what you have awakened