ne's

ng: Elaina's birthday party. Alaric's

a grand celebration. The house would be glowing, filled wi

d

ss on my lips with trembling hands. My reflection stared bac

saw yesterday, I had no bus

friend's arms. No, not just arms. His lips were on her neck, his hands on her hi

fway. My eyes dropped to the sink a

ad it been

of my neck and bit in

s? Years? Had I rea

k. Betraye

ned with a sudd

way-I could go throu

together. I wouldn't marry a man who couldn't even pretend to

behind me. Marla wasn't around, and I could bet everything I owned that she wa

ver to mine, hyping me up before every part

n I could barely look

ing the bitterness clawi

iliated. So..

't stop for he

he driver Elaina's address with a tight voice. I leane

he universe... I was seco

grand hall, champagne flutes clinked, and the soft hum of classical music floated t

as one of the mai

warmly. "Everyone's in the main lounge. M

sts who noticed me. I returned every greeting with grace

y," someone whispered behind me

y they

th a trained eye. Alaric was nowhere to be seen. Odd. He was never one to m

assing relative. "H

.. no, not yet. Ma

My heels echoed softly as I climbed, heart pounding-

that maybe this was all some misunderstanding. That maybe

room w

sti

ouc

furrowe

hallway, a light laugh floa

t l

old. I knew it like I

rl

fr

cracked door ahead of me. I inched closer, keeping

Marla asked, he

smug. "She'll definitely check my room

h twisted

e to keep from gasping. My

Marla's voice dropped into a whisper

. Then

rrangements. You know the dr

carving every ounce of hope f

e unmistakable sou

in cr

d to th

that Uncle Cassian is back... we

od ran

What

rom down the hall. I quickly moved, slipping away from the door li

led qu

n f

ch, musky, and expensive-wrapped around the

as in the

ter splashing soft

nudged m

he open bathroom door. Steam billowed out, curli

ma

ack wolf with eyes of fire, claw marks across his ribs like some invisible beast had tried to rip him open. A serpent

inked too. Intricate tribal lines t

rt stu

e, not clearly through

tur

er ran down his face, jawline sharp enou

eath

lew over

s h

ss

e Ca

s b

was like he sensed me there. His

oice low and rough like gr

rged thr

t of the room, hand still press

an wa

re plotting somethi

st walked in on h

me of moon god