ed

r churned in my gut. Dr. Hayes had said the Silver-leaf was administered just in time; an

ked at me now, wet with unshed tears. "Creed," she whispered, her

mrades. Brothers." The word 'brothers' felt awk

hing like a warrior's hand. "I know... but Lady Annette

ght of Annette's cold face, of the shattered tablet

rds coming out harsher than I in

before it was gone, replaced by that damnable vulnerabilit

A faint scent, like wildflowers

idic bite of the alchemical wolfsbane tonic she had ingest

owl, not the protective rumble I felt for Anne

we were. I could feel the warmth of

art, the pain a white-hot fire. Annette was there, holding me, her scent a calming balm

r the fire in my veins. I was a knight.

hand away. "You need to rest

ment in Coralie's eyes were

e end of the hall and threw open a window, letting the cold night wind whip against my face

foster mother, Martha, always said Annette was the Moon Goddes

I knew I had gone too far. Annette was my m

omething shiny. I would promise to take her to the

aightened my tunic and walk

door, took a deep b

s me, Creed.

le

der this time. "Annette, I know

hers. It was her maid, Pippa, her tone sharp with hostility

napped. The Alpha in me roared at the inso

flat, dead, like the surface of a frozen lake. "I h

Wr

e years of our bond, she had never, not

if I had walked int

und all mates. My consciousness brushed against hers and was vi

our mind-link. It was one of the most seve

d my fist against the solid oak of the door, the wood g