us's

neel in the main estate courtyard, someth

in twent

shoulders trembling, face pale beneath

whispered wh

er without

id, "Alpha Wilde, Form

My voice was cold. "A

ng to my co

and examined her reddened knees. Guilt

sked. "If Grandmother summons

illed instantly. "Viya tri

iya doesn't

d. "You're de

ating a

trap with t

set. She would never risk da

ardened. "You sound ve

landed awkward

I said. "Too ge

m my hands. "Can you honestly sa

oked

owled inside me.

iya for the

sn't my

ever touc

tasted

at bond. I had mixed herbs into Viya's tea, telling myself it was necessary. I had weakened

in disgust

respond, a soft sound

cot coat and holding a gift box t

ce was

ca

asked whether you'll attend the

. "Of course.

rig

sofa, then back to me. No accusation. N

n the box

gif

r w

ou

Then realiz

nnive

forg

mall smile. "It was for yesterday, but y

ya,

ne. You'

if excusing me was a h

urned and

r steps looked wro

ed, *She

ted af

behind me. "L

top

or one

gh for Viya to disap

Even now, she makes herself look

id not

sts betw

tion fille

was tied with such care that I could picture Viya s

ted for me

n something

my wife prepared an annivers

s low. *You ar

laughed

ever h

iced the gi

she asked lightly. "Since Viy

tness wa

box tight

id I'll see some

ran

"If she is only a political wife, why does a forgotten anniv

d not

r eyes, you act like you've committed a crime. Maybe the real problem isn't that Viya wan

still i

, Miranda had sa

lem I refused to solve. I set it on my desk, then moved it to the shelf,

*You can hide a box. You can

oug

ered. She always remembers. You forge

e Miranda had knelt was already swept clean of snow. Ev

en swept away before I returned home? How many bruises had healed und

with another mes

stairs? I don't w

for a long time

e'll tal

e, I did not go t