ena'

ked across K

either of us moved. My lips burned where he had forced his mouth against mi

st your mind

t me breathless. I would have blushed and kissed him back-my husband,

home with another wo

ng left in me n

red mark was already forming across his cheek, a

struc

ed yourse

expected me to obey. "You are still my Luna, whether you are angry or not. I am you

laugh e

and the moment you brought

darkened. "Be c

haken me. "You returned after three years with your mistress on your arm and your child in her womb. Then you stood before your entir

ir sh

force. My body reacted before my mind did. Every muscle locked, and my lungs fou

cted su

d recei

and stared direct

that I carry Al

at vanished almost as soon as it appeared. He had felt my resista

urved into a con

choed. "No one has

rike me. Unfortunately, he did

n the table beside me an

stone, carrying broken flowers between the jagged shards of porcelai

sharp edge aga

went

f his Alpha pr

step," I said,

d to the shard.

I will make certain you stand trial for it-even if

d. "You are bei

st

kin, and Kaelen's eyes narrowed as a thin sting wa

gance, he unders

urt who remembered the battles my family had fought and the blood they had spilled for the kingdom. There were elders wh

n life rather than submit to her husband, would

d destr

his eyes before he conc

ffairs before the council bec

his pregnant mistress into my home tried to for

is not my

e what name y

t his pride might overcome his caution and

drew himse

it is not," he said coldly. "All this

. If he could reduce what he had done to a harmless kiss and my resis

my ch

s fixed

na. Ending this marriage will

ill cost you more

e shattered porcelain. At last, Kael

th his hand

lly before you make thre

ready

g the door hard enou

faded down the corridor did

from my hand and

ing me by the arms as my knees threatened to give way, while Grace swe

ice broke. "How could

have dared," Grace whispered. Her eyes shone with angry

believed this marriage would keep me safe; she had placed my hand in Kael

d been

drew it tightly around my shoulders, although no amount of

I had sto

. Kaelen believed I belonged to him, and as long as I re

to l

had sacrificed so much to secure-I would pay it. I would not spend the rest of

locked drawer of my desk," I

without

e Grace unlocked the drawer and withdrew a smal

en it to me on th

d. "Promise me, Rowena. Promise me you will not

er. All she had wanted was for me to live quietly and safely-to fade

dignity was not safety. It wa

mother's final wish, I would

the phone, and dialed the num

ected before

astonished, and more than a little exasperate

rawing strength fro

d your