with his warriors and the seven ranking me

his stomach t

ck's land than he spat on the ground, as if t

elf reeked o

ld again, visiting his parents

is mother's head displayed like a trophy. His sister's entrails tor

suffer longer. Much lon

himself, shattered it before his own people

efuge with the Council and secured

k dealing with thos

Law imposed one exception: Balak and his ma

bsur

dn't care about the children. It

e him. The guards fell back

room and seated himsel

ver the hall, co

tle, these walls, this memory. Nothing was to

d like a whip. "I won't wait. The

answered one of the coun

back against

e was giving th

.

reflection of herself

n, almost regal, dr

refully worked, and set

hair swept up, her face

st like a princess. But this il

Urélia. "What is

htened h

arilyne, who was still fretting over

en Alpha Balak and Xaeron. I don't know every clause, but the rule is clear: Xaeron can claim

catch. "A pact? Why wo

won. It's negotiated. Bought. Your father must have paid a tremen

k. "Why am I being pres

t he considers important. That's why h

race. The more she heard,

ect to be handed ov

. "It will all depend on him.

r slamm

d. His eyes landed on her, immediately fill

ed the veil ove

miliation washed

uldn't even stand

alak growled. "That ba

ith a harsh stare.

flin

red with contempt, "Look at that... Wi

sobs as she buried her

mind had g

. Unfathomabl

er

bo

ric

ng decided w

the stairway, fla

p felt li

an entire assemb

ng members. Heav

a Balak. And at the center, an oc

featureless. But his presence alone

formed a rigid line,

stood

of his footsteps rang ou

unable to face that

rything

rs caught her face with brutal precision, forcing

man of almost unr

h that charm was s

hat offered