ia'

above the eastern wall, m

trays, baskets, and covered dishes. The entire estate was preparing for the Alpha's arrival, and every person who had once

t ash. Steam blurred the windows, and the water in

thank

was n

ay conversations stopped when

hed me from behind a s

one did not rea

swered, "It did no

at every unmated woman

tered agains

muttered

n the packs that claimed it, older than most of the laws governing marriage and succession. According to the stories, the Moon G

te, there would be no wedding allia

would b

me carrying a tray of empty cups. She leane

en threw a chair thr

d at her

including Celeste." Mira's eyes widened as she looked toward th

my voice.

old enough to be c

opped moving

he change

enough," sh

nswer, Marta ent

ween her brows. In fifteen years, I had never seen her smile, although she had

over the room a

Come w

wn the p

caped before I

rvants tur

she did not waste time

see every unmated wo

part of th

not your

s did not hurt, but they were firm enough to make i

owed h

painted eyes following us beneath the flickering lamps. I had spent most of my life in the servants' quarters, the kitch

narrow door and ha

ang

ent. "Why am I being

. Celeste is not his mate, an

es not explain

hesi

l pause, but

re were no other unmated wome

I being bro

ntioned that another woman had been

ps fal

e was. Vivienne could not deny your existence without making hers

the hem, but it was cleaner than the one I had worn in the kitchen. I tucked the charm beneath its

hall wa

ices low and tense. The air carried too many scents at once-expensive pe

inside, the conv

turned first

is

Edmund's

este was the o

s like a

s a se

, but because looking directly at powerful people

d me throug

rested upon it, dark and smooth beneath the torchlight. The surface ap

nding

od the Alpha

and a stillness that made the movement around him appear nervous. His dark hair had been bru

ked to

nside my ch

g beside the ston

," he called.

to grow longer

before the

, the stone

light appeared be