felt earlier wasn't her wolf-it was something else, darker and foreign. She pressed her bac

xpecting Damien's return. Instead, a tall figure stepped in-an older man with a stern expression and

d, his voice low and clipp

her eyes but

sharp. "Damien's father. And I've come to s

it show. "If you're here to gloat or threaten me,

ith a look that made her feel like prey under a predator's watchful gaze. "You're not the first we

. "If you're so certain I'm

said, his voice a whip crack of authority. "And because I

re about your politics or your game

stand. You're in a world where alliances are everythin

ay, his silver eyes gleaming with annoyance. "Father," h

mess," Marcus repl

int in his eyes. "Liana is no

, but she stayed quiet, ob

ave any idea what the other clans will think when they hear you've take

hitched. They k

well aware of who she is. And I don't

re. With one last withering look at Liana, he

letting out a sigh. "Ignore hi

es blazing. "Why am I here, Da

, his silver eyes unreadabl

not an

tted, "but it

beneath the surface. "Let me go. Whateve

ess to it this time. "You think it's that simp

d. "Because I'm n

ng cold. "And as long as you're und

d. "You're no different from the rest of them," she said, her voic

r, his presence overwhelming. "Careful, Liana. You

efusing to back down.

ged with tension. Then, to her surprise, Damien lau

pping back. "I don't know yo

turned and left, the door l

, and she didn't trust him for a second. But if she wanted to escape, she

ike a cage with each passing hour. Damien visited occasionally, his demeanor was always calm b

irections she didn't want to go. But she learned something important: Damien wasn't like t

simple tray of food that smelled tant

e of resources," Damien said d

she muttered, taki

before speaking. "Do you hate all vampi

tching her off guard. "Wha

hatred for my kind very clear. I'm curious i

y father was killed by a vam

d, but only slightly. "Not

like the ones who killed y

icker of pain crossing

r a moment, the air th

aid quietly, surprising even he

mien replied, his voice low. "But

ing Liana to wonder what game he was playin

ouder, almost deafening, and it brought with it a vision-a dark fores