er'

uti

really called

ale, wondering whether sh

ever call

n. Some had even told her she was luc

ce wanted. She had changed her clothes, learned to cook his favor

had been

looking at her as if she

de no

ountless werewolves homeless. She had heard

ave been ter

terrifie

ow hazy. It was dark and warm, like cedar mixed wi

ver felt any

way. Being near him had always made her ne

ian, she felt a strange

kly look

id. This man

anything so delica

head sna

ing to the m

scratche

icate to me. Your warriors would h

expressi

hy

ught she

have a

N

attack

pau

N

they were prepar

lowered t

didn't understand why the Alpha wa

which method of killing he

ndered arou

ls. Metal instruments lay on a nearby

omach

a tortu

sed it to punish enemies who r

ands bega

an no

's wr

uldn't

pped c

nched, raising her ar

don't

filled t

eyes shut, wait

ever

fingers touc

ned her e

sted against her face, and he moved a s

ssion had

his eyes, but it wa

too. Something that look

you?" h

stared

said, his voice

ered he

esn't

w tigh

tters

ds nearly

t happened to her. Now a man she had never met was

ed away before the

removed

ack are

clad

ebrows

aric Thor

no

him letters requesting an alliance several tim

woman be wandering al

you com

eart bega

't tell hi

learned she had been banished, he might decide she was trouble. And if he di

ned what happened wh

st," she

studied

why you'r

ed tears were runni

no

e she was frightened than expla

until they were a

to tell me any

inked

ed towa

ie h

ely gestured

Ember's wrists, leaving

expression

these so

ard sw

id, A

rain a prisoner wi

polog

t o

ds hurri

assian with an expression

ooked bac

you w

hink

d toward

et you somewhe

d at him in

oing to be

you give m

art po

es. Still, his voice carried no threat, and he

turned

Have a maid attend to her,

, Al

d K

eta s

her without permiss

ows lifted,

erst

faced Em

e safe

ed to be

r allowed herself to imagine that perhaps the