LOGINBy the time the security detail I had assigned to keep Baevera safe entered her estate, I already had Vido hog-tied and bound, ready to hand over to them. But first.Crossing the courtyard, I drove my fist into Conord’s gut and waited.The force folded him over with a grunt, breath leaving him in a harsh rush, guilt written plainly across his face. He said nothing. There was nothing to say.I punched him again, this time on the nose, watching with grim satisfaction as the cartilage shifted and blood burst free, pouring down his mouth and chin."What do you have to say for yourself?" I spoke through gritted teeth."I apologize, my lord," he forced out."What was your purpose here?""To eliminate all threats before they could reach her while remaining unseen. To weave our presence around hers so she was never without protection.""And what did I tell you would happen if harm came to her while she was under your watch?""You would have our heads for dinner.""Good." I reared back and sla
LORD REVANDRELAll I smelled as my feet pounded the ground was that fucker's blood. I wanted more of it. To tear him apart piece by piece, and drink it from the source.His death rode the wind ahead of me, and I chased it with single-minded hunger. Vido was good at running, but I was skilled at chasing prey.Seeing Baevera half-naked, bruised, crying and shaking, terror filling her eyes, had driven me past fury. Ignited something so violent inside me that even my beast struggled to contain it. My yellow vision burned with streaks of red fury. Every beat of my heart pumped inferno through my veins.That bastard's skin was still embedded under my claws, his blood painted my bronze hide, but neither was enough. I was bloodthirsty, and I would not rest until I bathed in that his fucking blood.Snarling, I cut through the trees. All my senses were pulled inward, focusing on his trail. His scent was fading… intentionally, I realized. The mongrel was using neutralizing powders.Clever. He ha
The weight of him, knowing it was him, knowing who it was and what it meant, broke something open in me that was beyond fear. I went absolutely feral, screaming and clawing at him.Then, I was shifting.“Don’t you dare—” My beast came through, and I got a claw across his neck and dragged, tearing skin and drawing blood.His shout of pain filled me with savage satisfaction, but it was brief…because he shifted as well.The blow he landed across my face exploded pain through me, my vision going white. Another blow followed. Rage burned in those yellow eyes.I kept fighting anyway. I knew better than anyone what stopping meant. What waiting meant. What lying still meant. He was not doing that to me again. I would absorb every blow before I let that happen. I would court death before I gave in to him. Anything was better than that!Revandrel. The thought came from whatever part of me was still lucid, still reaching. Please. I hope you heard me. Please come.I did not know if he was comin
Had I been too hopeful?Too foolish in believing this day would never come? That I never have to look up again and find this face staring back at me?I wished I could pretend my world had not just ended. That I could hold myself together, stand firm, and become the lion instead of what I became the moment these people appeared. But my body had never listened to what I wished when it came to them. It reacted before thought could intervene, broke before I could brace. And they had always counted on it.The back of my eyes burned as I watched Vido move slowly forward."Do not worry,” he said in a voice almost gentle. “I chose this day with care. Your plaything is on the other side of the world. It is just the two of us."My jaw locked so tightly I forgot how to open it."You have been a very naughty girl, sweet Eve. Giving Jolan’s property away to Cel’theren whenever it pleased you.” He clicked his tongue. “Just so you know, he is not happy with you. You will feel his wrath when we retu
LADY BAEVERAThe afternoon's final meeting had run longer than anticipated, which was the natural consequence of textile merchants who had strong feelings about dye lots and even stronger feelings about being heard expressing those feelings at length. I was in the middle of redirecting the discussion back toward the supply agreement on the table when the door opened.Revandrel walked in.I…stared.He’d been meant to remain in the capital for several days, yet here he was, still dressed for travel, exhaustion in the set of his shoulders.There was a restlessness about him too that made my concern rise immediately."Cel'theren…" My head of trade looked up with visible startlement, and he was not alone in it.Every face around the table went alert in the particular way of people recalibrating quickly. The history between that name and mine was not private knowledge, leaving themwondering what was he doing here.“Gentlemen, and ladies,” Revandrel’s voice was controlled despite the strai
“No, wait—” the third ruler began."I believe you have all mistaken me for someone else." My voice came out rough. "I do not know who this Uriel is." I took another step. “It appears he died during the Eclipse Moon Night tragedy, and I am genuinely sorry for that loss. But I was not yet born at that time."My mother had been a few weeks pregnant with me by then, but I kept that to myself. It was not the point. “Now, if you will excuse me.” I turned away.“Please. Just wait.”Something in the third ruler’s voice stopped me, though I did not turn around.The plea was desperate, but there was resignation beneath it too, as though he already expected me to keep walking.“Thank you,” he said softly. “Please, if you do not mind me asking, how old are you?”I opened my mouth to answer, then paused. Instead, I asked flatly, “How old was your son when he died?”Behind me, Lady Morina’s crying worsened. A pang struck my chest. I ignored it.“Uriel was one thousand five hundred and twenty-thre
“I am never drinking from her,” I said flatly, pulling out the red-and-black robe from the upper rack.“You know the hunger is only going to worsen, right?” he said. “The bond does not just appear, Revan. It demands to be sealed.”“I will take my chances.”Alaric sighed, the kind of sigh that usual
I waited longer than I thought possible, my blood dripping into Revandrel's slightly parted lips.Doubt began to creep in: perhaps he could not. Perhaps it was already too late. My knees burned where they pressed into the sand, back aching from the curve of my spine as I hovered over him, but I he
By the time I finished, her breathing was still uneven, but the panic was ebbing.She stilled.I straightened, brushing my hands together, and turned toward the door.“Evan…” she whispered behind me. “Evan, I am so sorry.”I stilled. My back went ramrod straight, fingers curling into fists at my si
LADY BAEVERAI could not feel my legs.They trembled uselessly, refusing to bear any weight as the world still spun in slow, dizzy circles.So… this was what release feels like. I just had an orgasm.It had felt so good, so beautiful, so untainted. Gods, so I still have it in me. Tears welled in my







