ia'

rozen water. It illuminated the elder's robes, the polished marble, and every stunned

g for some explanation hidden beneath its sur

he stra

s voice sounded unsteady. "This

hifted to the e

der sw

s recorded t

d seemed

door and working in the kitchens whenever Vivienne needed another pair of hands. I had never

at possibl

ttention m

ad changed. It was not recognition. If anything, it loo

ou two years

s directed at m

round the edge of my dre

eave the t

N

t anyone fro

at I kn

y. "Were you taken anywhe

kept me too weak to remember how I had been moved from one room to another.

d. "I would

s voice so the enti

is not automatic. The bonded female must c

rough the room in

pushed

nnot be

ued as though sh

may recognize the bond while withholding full

ear?"

will test a different part of the woma

et it also gave my fear a shape. A trial could be studied

d had never offered me

s d

ce broke thro

mistake! Sh

r arm, but Celeste

n years," Celeste cried. "She cannot be a L

lifted h

remony will tak

as though he had per

ly blank, but her fingers remained c

r the back of the h

d again. "This bitch i

Kaelen raised his voice. "This wom

e her over me?!" Cel

d over her once, c

nly and one who turns every disappointment into a public

l went

se stu

me hearing an Alpha dismiss

oward me. Her hand caught the edge of my sleeve, and

d there and preten

en us before the f

lf, but her heel caught the

, struck the side of a ceremonial table

her. Its contents scattered across the marble, and a dark

este lay on the floor beneath

tried to force upon me h

d down at he

urned with anger

what ha

lying f

now who i

e moved acro

is my bonded partner now. No one is

shed herse

ot your L

But she is the wom

ic, who had been stand

west rece

owed. "A

hen look

with

did not reac

e eyes on my back and the murmurs that rose