point

stop thinki

m, I felt my wolf stir. It was more than suspicion. It was pull,an invisible th

s unn

erv

plai

like what it

Curiosity, another.

y bones. A voi

ntouched on the table, lips of the goblet stained but full. The hilt of my dagger dug

about hi

Too quick. T

t sor

only one person in this palace

you?" Dominica whis

ls of birds, melted wax, and a single blue flame that burned without fue

at her. "You're not

your energy is bleeding. Your aura'

is a s

on't haun

"Tell me. What d

aving a story. She spread a scroll across her lap, di

p, her pupils had

nce is in motion. The wolf you thought yourself t

coffed. "I h

aid. "And the perso

nded once,ha

ils Dominic

-

put distanc

ables. Then the librar

followed,without trying.

kept w

rings, he stood too still, too calm for someone enslaved. His gaze wasn'

ed towa

ing something

annual celebration of bloodlines, territory claims, and Lycans

d, dressed, and marched through

s nowhere t

l... caug

d arms covered in faint burns. She moved like a s

ve passe

her

. Fam

d someth

tching her f

ticed. She

ide me, her eyes never blinking. "Jus

am

s syrup-sweet. "She'll be gone

oked

of me didn'

. was that Nicholas

arly b

t notice how he tens

I

did D

wly as she leaned tow

n eyebrow.

entered the hall, his eyes followed her like a

d, narrowing my

fectly still,until Nicolina passed by

e

ng

a

ica s

ile that made

she whispered. "Let's

sk what sh

rely

t-but effective. Her traps never sna

-

flowing, music echoing through vaulted ceilings. I sat on the thron

damp, chest gleaming with sw

chair,my personal g

ear his h

fa

lo

he wal

itche

ing a tray of roast boar. Her

Nich

e body l

ching a puppet

nched. His

e dropped his gaze,not to the f

purred beside m

ad do

he lion's mouth just

holas slowly. "

jesty," he s

ice cr

a smile

ne," I said casually. "P

his head. "I

ith a goblet in hand. She walked straight to Nicolina

took it,

ned back tow

watc

ent p

ano

s-no, he-gla

lust

curi

rotec

mily relative walk

's eyes

the momen

k beside me, li

flinc

ho

aid. "He looked a

ed. "Ex

lings, maybe. More than that. Look

y, watching th

nds tr

clench

uck me was s

fe

il

, softer this time. "He'

wicked enough to raise

s a liar, the