e tang of a dying bond. Serena stood by the heavy oak table, her knuckles white as she gripped the edge. Across from her, Lucian

han I thought," Serena hissed, her voice trembling not with sadness, but with a burgeoning, predatory rage. "Do not insult m

of the paper loud in the silence. "I am not moving until you press your signet to these scrolls

organ to verify that these Blackthorn Legal Council documents don't strip me of my b

ps, or merely the ghost of a duty fulfilled. "You were the best Luna I could have asked for, but Adr

red mating ground on Bloodtide Isle. She'd memorized the guest list for her s

could smell the whiskey and wolfsbane on him. "Who was the rat? Wh

erena." He paused, the silence stretching until

You mated with my own blood? The wom

e door with a finality that made the air feel thin. "I am le

fidante, sat across from her, scanning the documents with a grim focus. Isabella, Serena'

ow as she stared at the glowing embers in the hearth. "Because he's already gut

adhering to the adultery clauses of the Nightwood-Graves alliance. He isn't sho

s blades, thinking back. They both vanished during the council gala last year. He was late for my mother's birthday feast

ght you two were the gold standard of the hockey world and t

. "She's wanted my crown since we were pups. I should have scented her ambition months

ler," Isabella urged. "You don't kno

a said, standing up. "Though it takes two to break a

the courtyard-the sound

, glancing at the monitors. "D

l take th

s your representative for the Blackthorn Council, I'll deliver the news of his exile m

A sharp, physical ache throbbed in her chest, the p

my wolf is dy

't have to show your face at the Crimson Vei

d focused. "I can't stay in this hollow estate listening to the ech

wood. You're strong. But Serena... you have that lo

wrong that I've spent the last three hours plotting how to dismantle his entire

asked, surprised. "You're the one

oward Isabella. "Lucian has been using my personal device to bypass the Graves network encrypti

with Richard and Dominic. If he secures these docks and the new arena, the Mafia Council will name h

Isabella

blocking Lucian's every move. Lucian is terrified of him. Everything h

croft? The Enforcer? The man th

council. Then he outbid the Graves family for the Ice-Rink development. Lucian is bleeding power because of

voice was as cold as the winter woods. "Lucian

ugh her eyes sparkled with a dark curiosity. "But if you find a way to do it through the Black