n P

ment of stunned silence, then an

an in a ridiculous feathered hat sneere

rple. "Guards!" she shrieked

my size, stepped forward. They

en grant th

ers. It was like they had run full-tilt into a stone wall. Both men grunted in pain and surprise, stumbling

replaced by uneasy murmu

of massive granite statues flanking the entrance-two snarling wolves, car

ly towards th

oing now?" som

hat?" Another voice, a nervous

und its solid base. Anya watched, breath hit

cles in my arms and back tightened, a subtl

asp swept thro

inch, the giant granite wo

sound of stone grinding against stone. The cane slipped from Martha's nu

than me, a monstrous weight that I h

e the gate. The gate of reinforced steel

cutting through the stunned s

from the very depths of my soul,

O

e ground. The steel gate screamed, buckling inward,

top. I swu

AS

king in protest. Cracks spiderw

e over my head and brought it dow

-KO

estate collapsed inward, torn from its moorings. It fell wi

ay wa

nded with a heavy thud that made the ground tre

t a backward glance, stepped over

the courtyard, trying to look composed, t

e strained. "He... is unable to attend the

d humiliation. It

low, mocking smile sp

th false sympathy. "Is your Alpha'

ned beet red. H