ANMELDENARIEL "Of course." She smiled. "What about?""You need to tone it down."Her smile flickered. "Excuse me?""All of it. The touching. The laughing. The acting like you're already my Luna." I stepped closer, my voice low. "I'm playing along for the council's sake. But I'm not your mate. And I'm not going to pretend to be."She stared at me. "You don't mean that.""I mean every word.""The council..." "The council doesn't control me. I control the council." I leaned closer. "I'm the Alpha. And I could cancel our arrangement at any time. Remember that."Her face went pale. Then her mask slipped back into place. "Of course, Kazimir. I understand.""Do you?""Perfectly."She walked away. I watched her go.-———————I tried to find Ariel.The pack house was sprawling with people who had arrived for the celebration. I didn't know what room Ariel or Evie would be but I doubted she'd be in my own room. I searched everywhere. I finally found her in Evie's room.The door was cracked open, and I
ARIEL I knew what he was asking. Not just about the summit, about what we'd done. What we'd shared. I could see flashbacks in my head. "I'm not ready," I said. "Besides, what's there to talk about? I already told you, it won't happen again." He nodded slowly. "I'm not asking you to talk about it now. We can talk about it later. And yes, it will happen again."I opened my mouth, but promptly closed it. I had no response to what he said. He smirked, he looked like he was gloating. "I have to check the perimeter," he said. "Do you want to come?"Being alone with Kazimir? I didn't think so. I shook my head. "I have to take a shower." Back at my room, Evie was making a list.It was on a piece of paper that was covered in her messy handwriting, crayon scribbles that were supposed to be words. She'd listed everything she needed for school: backpack, pencils, water bottle, snack, friend.I looked at the last one."Friend?""Uh-huh. I'm going to make a friend. On the first day." She nodd
ARIELI woke up without Kazimir on my bed. The sheets were cold on the other side. The pillow still held the faint imprint of his head, but the warmth was gone, replaced by the chill of morning. I reached out, my fingers brushing the fabric, and felt the absence like a physical ache.I shouldn't have missed him. I'd spent ten years sleeping alone, running alone, surviving alone. I didn't need a man’s warmth. I didn't want it.But I did.I wanted his.I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, remembering the way he'd held me at the summit. The way his arms had wrapped around me, the way his breath had been warm on my hair, the way I'd slept through the night without a single nightmare.Then I pushed myself up, swung my legs over the side of the bed, and forced myself to move.Evie was still asleep when I checked on her. She was curled around her stuffed rabbit, the gray stone from Nikolai on her nightstand, her face peaceful in the soft glow of the crescent moon nightlight. I
ARIEL ARIEL The estate came into view like a promise.I pressed my forehead against the car window, watching the familiar stone walls rise out of the darkness. The windows were lit with warm golden light. Smoke curled from the chimneys. Somewhere inside, Evie was waiting for me.I hadn't let myself think about her during the drive. Hadn't let myself imagine what it would be like to hold her again, to hear her voice, to feel her small arms around my neck. I couldn't. It was all too much to think about. But now we were here. And she was inside.The car had barely stopped before I was out of the door.I heard her before I saw her, that small, delighted shriek that always made my heart ache. Then she was running across the foyer, her hair flying behind her, her arms outstretched."Mama!"I dropped to my knees. She crashed into me, her small body colliding with mine, her arms wrapping around my neck. I held her so tight I was probably hurting her, but I couldn't let go."Baby. My baby."
KAZIMIR I kissed her again.This time, there was no hesitation. Her hands found the buttons of my shirt, fumbling with them, her breath hot against my neck. I reached behind her, finding the zipper of her dress, and pulled it down slowly.She shivered as the fabric loosened. I pushed it off her shoulders, watching it fall, watching her emerge from it like a goddess from the sea.She stood before me in nothing but a thin slip of silk, her seductive curves and the swell of her breasts were hard to miss, especially when her nipples stood erect, her skin flushed, her eyes bright with wanting."Your turn," she whispered.She pulled my shirt over my head, her hands exploring my chest, my shoulders, my back. Her touch was electric, leaving trails of fire wherever she went.I lifted her, carried her to the bed. She wrapped her legs around my waist, pulling me closer, her mouth finding my neck, my collarbone, my chest.I laid her down on the sheets.She looked up at me, her raven black hair s
KAZIMIR KAZIMIR The day ahead was full of politics, the final ceremony, the closing remarks, the endless handshakes and empty promises. But there was one thing I needed to do first.Marcus Volk had requested a private meeting after the breakfast ceremony.I found him in the library, standing by the fire, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He looked up when I entered, his face unreadable."Kazimir. Thank you for coming.""You said it was urgent.""It is." He gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit."I sat.Marcus didn't immediately speak. He swirled his whiskey, stared into the flames, and seemed to be choosing his words carefully."I have a proposition for you," he said finally. "A business proposition. From an interested party.""Who?""I'm not at liberty to say that yet.” "Then I'm not interested."Marcus smiled. "I thought you might say that. Which is why I'm going to tell you enough to pique your interest, but not enough to satisfy your curiosity."I leaned back in my chair. "
ARIEL The housekeeper, a stern-faced woman named Irina, laid out the new clothes on the bed with military precision. Silk blouses, tailored trousers, dresses that probably cost more than my entire life savings. Evie's eyes went wide as saucers as she touched a cashmere sweater. "This is softer
KAZIMIR The jet's engines whined as we descended through thick clouds. Below, the Cavata skyline glittered like broken glass, cold, sharp, beautiful. My city. My empire. I flexed my hand, I had hit a little too hard and went a little crazy on the hostage we caught. Malhorn’s man had lasted seven
ARIELEvie clutched my sleeve. I squeezed her hand. "Go with them, little fox. They'll show you the house and the garden and everywhere else." She hesitated but followed them out, casting a wary glance at Dimitri over her shoulder. Once the door closed, I crossed my arms. "Well?" Dimitri turne
ARIEL The bed was too soft. Evangeline kept shifting, her tiny fingers clutching the silk sheets like they might swallow her whole. I smoothed her hair back, humming the lullaby my mother used to sing, the only piece of her I had left to give. "Are we really staying here, Mommy?" Evie whispered,







