Mag-log inRavena's POV
The grief was still in me, but it had settled into something quieter, and life in the pack went on the way life does, and one morning Lady Vivienne came to me with a matter of her own that had nothing to d
Vivienne's birthday was coming, and Ravena meant to make it grand.She threw herself into the planning of the banquet, for she wanted to honour the woman who had become, against all odds, a true mother to her. Invitations went out to every pack in the kingdom, written fine and sealed with the Solstice Crown, and naturally that meant one went to the Grand Princess's pack as well. It would have been a slight to leave Marian
Lucien's POV Somehow, I brought Astrid to the old Luna's door a second time, and this time I didn't leave when I was refused.I had loaded the carriage with gifts. Silks, medicines, gold, enough to shame a richer house than this small one. And when we reached the gate I didn't send a servant ahead. I went to the door myself, and I lowered myself down onto my knees on the cold stone, an Alpha kneeling in the dirt of a poor
Lucien's POV I had believed Mara was one thing, and she was another. I had told myself I had chosen a dignified wife. A general's widow, well-read, reasonable, gentle with her servants, upright the way a soldier's kin ought to be upright. That was the woman I thought I had brought into my house. And a single word from that woman had broken a man's hand and then his leg.I resented the manure-thrower too. I won't pretend otherwise. But catch the man, thrash him, throw him out, that would have been enough.
Lucien's POV The Alphas' assembly met in the great hall of the palace the next morning, as it did every single moon, all the pack lords gathered to make their reports before the King. I went with a heavy step because I already knew the mood of the kingdom. I knew my own name was fouled with it, and I had hoped only to sit through the thing quietly and slip out unremarked.But I wasn't so lucky.
The next morning Ravena went out on errands of her own, and her road happened to carry her past the gate of the Blackstone pack.She hadn't meant to look. But it was impossible not to. The great front gate of the pack, once so proud, was fouled from top to bottom with filth. Someone had come in the night and splashed manure all across the entrance, the doors, the stone, the fine carved posts, and the stink of it was overw
Ravena's POV Evander came home late from his duties that evening, tired and cold, and after he had washed and eaten I told him all about the match I had helped arrange for Liora.He listened with a small smile growing on his face, and when I had finished he nodded, well pleased."Kaelen," he said. "The Queen's youngest nephew. Yes. I know the boy a little, and I think it's a fine thing." He leaned back. "They are much alike, those two, that is the truth of it. Both gentle. Both quick to laugh. Both a little soft-hearted, a little shy, neither one of them hungry for grandeur the way half the court is. He won't try to rule her and she won't try to rule him. They are cut from the same cloth, and that's worth more in a marriage than any title. They will suit each other well." He reached over and took my hand. "You did a good thing, arranging it, and a clever one, talking my mother round. I heard she wanted the elder brother.""She did. But she came round.""Because you showed her how." H
King Alaric's POV
Ravena's POVAfter returning to Moonveil, I did not rest. Instead, I went straight to my chamber, pulled out an old leather bag, and began stuffing in what little I needed. I packed a few clothes, some dried meat, bread wrapped in cloth, and a flask of water. I knew I had to go alone. If I stayed o
Lucien's POVIn that moment, I quickly dropped lower, my palms flat on the ground, my voice shaking though I forced it out. “No… of course not, Your Majesty!”“Then tell me, Lucien… is it really just a rumour?”I hurriedly nodded, my head bowing again and again. “Yes, Your Majesty. I swear it. I ga
Lucien's POVAfter seeing Ravena leave with her servants, a deep pain began to spread through my chest. It was sharp at first, then slow and burning, crawling through my veins as if my own body had betrayed me. Each step I tried to take grew heavier until my knees almost buckled.Gritting my teeth,







