LON

ll. Clara and I walked through the rose garden, the

buzzing with excitement. "Gemma and Kaele

ess," I said calmly. "The

urious voice shou

s! You stop

ress a slash of anger in the tranquil garden. Two o

jabbing towards my nose. "You bitch!

ss Gemma, please watch your language! My lady o

servant dares to lecture me? I thi

, her palm flying t

r eyes shut, brac

In one swift motion, I caught Gemma's wrist

round her wrist, holdi

er eyes wide with shock

I said, my voice dangerously low

ng at me with her other hand. Her friends started to move forward, and

Let th

me, I released her wrist, and in t

L

arp and loud in

k, a full handprint blooming red on her cheek. A t

one f

ng up to touch her stinging face

g. In my past life, I had endured co

an authority I had never used before. "And I was the chosen mate of your Alph

ver her and her

ce dropping, "my mother was a Carlis

l carried weight. It spoke of a legacy of

oved between Gemma and me. I stood before them with my shoulders squared, no longer shrinking beneath their scrutiny. Whatever they h

wide with a fear I had never seen

back on her. I took Clara's arm, who was still star

r us, their expressions a mixtur

Clara finally found her voice.

ooking at my own hand, th

st wit. It required power. An