Alvar

from inside. In the dim hallway, my loyal maid, Phoebe, stood trembling in the shadows. She had been waiting outside t

r my shivering shoulders, and fell into step behind me as we walked do

t's shouted by the Alpha and the old Luna. The servants, who used to bow so low their noses nearly touched the floor wheneve

's just a maid now," a scullery maid whispered l

y," a guard snickered, his eyes shamelessly

edsheets by hand tomorrow morning," another chimed in,

g with rage behind m

iting cold hit me instantly. The fireplace was completely dea

ut, sealing us inside, Phoebe

into the cold floorboards. "He knew! He knew how much that night destroyed you! How could he use the sla

hacked to pieces that night too! Their blood soaked the very soil we grew up on! And for a whole year, you coughed up

d my deepest, most horrifying trauma, the last frag

ears from her face. "Tears cannot wash away the blood of our families. Fletcher said House Alvarado is no

er sobs, looking at

rs," I commanded, standin

er-bound ledgers. As I flipped through the pages-a testament to the immen

I traced the ink with my finger, my eyes narrowing. "Why ha

ed the stewards to intercept the funds three days ago! Miss, they knew! Fletcher mind-linked his mother d

deprecating laugh

raid our secondary storehouse yesterday and took the exquisite ruby jewel

ths of my eyes. The old hag was wearing my dead moth

heat Darla's grand pavilion," Phoebe m

d, snapping the ledger shut with a sharp crack th

e Terrell warriors were laughing, roasting meat a

ado-owned business, farm, and moon-silver mine. Cease all fund transfers to the Terrell Pack. Cut off their food

erce, vengeful fire. "You mean.

s see how her glorious sword skills conjure bread out of thin air. I want a detailed calculation of

King's blessing for this union. If I stayed, they would eventually us

ver the bond a

fting toward the distant, towering spires of the

To petition the King directly was an incredib

e him a god who could dictate my fate? Fine. Let's see how his pathe

dwriting was sharp, decisive,

red heroes who had shed their last drop of blood defending his

solute annulment of my union with Fletcher Terrell. I explicitly stated that the Terrell Pack was forcibly seizing the assets

y, folded the letter, and sealed it with the Alvar

dered, handing the heavy envelope to Phoebe. "Ride throu