PTE

ius'

o stop searchi

arge chamber feel heavy, and suffocating. The torches lining the stone w

r seats like prey sensing the presence of a predator. Elder Va

s and questioned traders in every neighboring town. Even the black markets have yie

sharper this time, cutting th

osing a mate, the kingdom grows restless. The packs whisp

ng oak table. "My sister is missing, and your gre

ze respectfully. "We are concerned about the bloo

ugh almost

I had ever been to them-pieces o

nsides. "My bloodline is intact. My sister is still out there, an

n to reason. Celene was taken by skilled hunters-people who know how to co

never would. Not when they saw my sister as a symbol of

her." The words tasted l

last of the royal line. The packs need a queen before

my wolf bristling at the suggesti

pond, another voice cu

spoke with slow precision. "The kingdom

m. "And you believe them more p

ivity. Two towns were raided last week. Our warriors are spread

guild grows impatient. Without a queen, foreign alliances weaken. Our neighbors sense

hazar has still not sworn his loyalty to you. He waits. Watching for a sign of weakness."

wa

bling

the brink o

mattered to me as

out border raids and trade disputes while m

o," Marcellus countered. "And

beneath my grip. My wolf was restless, furious. He d

d, thick with un

ice calm but firm. "We e

the chamber, settling dee

at followed fe

able, my chair scraping against

e in a show of frustrat

Then I'll turn Noctshire upside dow

ncomfortably, but none of the

ordered, my pat

their heads before exiting the

y once we were alone. "Has you

oes that have to

king unlike any before you." Her gaze was un

"I don't have time

k that you open your mind to the possibility that your fa

d and left, her robe

at the empty chamber, m

d me to fi

me to forg

was an

as there was

I still had l

ched m

ld fi

t fin

my way, I would make

, the scent of the forest below offering little comfort. My

ps appr

ing didn't go well,

and second-in-command, leaning a

ate." I muttered, irritat

ou? Mated? I'd like to see the p

him a

, what's the plan, then? Keep chasing shado

one major lea

"The warehouse and ol

recently. Someone powerful is cleani

at's dangerous terr

my lips. "Then it is exa

're a stubborn bast

"So i've

I'll gather a small unit. But if

ea

I turned back to the

s out

running ou

nig

ned alleys near the border of the city, where

on," Magnus murmured, scanning

ws stretching unnaturally long. A chill ran down my spine, but I shook

e a look. "Yo

or always knows wh

mind. Was I walking into an ambush? Would

-a s

ut unmis

sis

ath st

sudden change in p

d from within

pained

claws itching to tear th

cted me, I'd be walking straight into

dn't h

gnus, already steppi

under his brea

nt had