ena

pon the castle's mullioned windows

aring a large, flat box b

irl murmured, her gaze fixed

ned t

n of heavy velvet, its colour the de

te craftsmanship, but I und

ed visual stratagem, designed to present us as equals, to blur the sacred

en. "Inform her ladyship that I

ith terror, but she curts

who was sitting q

imple, thick wool co

cking the silver-thread embroidery that

rned navy blue, without so muc

uble doors of the Elder Council hal

wearing his formal Alpha coa

crimson velvet, her throat and wr

figy of Kael, garbed in a

perfect, r

in dress, his brow furrowing

doors gr

ulted ceiling lost in shadows above the fli

arble statue of the Moon God

rom the stone walls, though his hands gripped the ledger with a visible reluctance. He looked at Kael

emanated from him, pressing down upon the old man. "My decre

under an invisible weight as he dipped his quill. "The pup born in the month of March

r's voice dropped, as if the words pained him: "The pup born in the month of December of

ere a publi

the son of the Fated

epped f

a's son and gently guide

is voice full of pride. "Sho

o's turn, Kael

ssed over his chest, his gaze fix

l hand and walked

at me, his g

d. "Why am I second?

my gaze falling past Kael's polished boots to a loose flagstone in t

ered softly. "This is mere

dded s

ne, the dust staining th

tremble once, a violent, q

ing, a cry of bewildered agony for

d stayed silent, buryi

k moved to the banquet ha

table, taking the seat

the servants, a flawless p

eo's hand, lookin

f false sweetness that carried to every corner of the hal

all wooden table ne

west-ranking members of the pack, and for t

scrape of a bench on stone was un

as upon me, waiting for

grant it

d my son to the Omega table, pulli

ssing Warrior bowed

, Lady Serena

a. Lady

me not by decree, but by the sile

g to memory the chill of every averted ga

I would begin the quiet