LOGINVira’s POVThe old king stared at us with wide, angry eyes, his pale, thin lips trembling as Gryfyn’s heavy hand held my waist firm against his dark leather armor.Every single noble lord sitting along the long wooden tables kept completely still, their breath caught in their throats as they waited to see if the royal guards would draw their swords against us. The golden hall was so quiet that the only sound left in the room was the soft crackle of the tall tallow candles burning on the white tablecloths.Before we could take a single step toward the heavy oak doors, the Grand High King reached out his shaky, bony hand, picking up a tall, crystal glass goblet filled with deep red wine from his golden tray. He slammed the heavy base of the crystal goblet down onto the wood, his weak voice rising into a high, shrill scream that echoed off the tall stone walls."Guards, arrest these northern rebels right now!" the old king shouted, his pale face turning a dark, dangerous purple as he poi
Vira’s POVThe banquet hall inside the high solar tower was filled with warm yellow light and the rich smell of roasted meat, hot bread, and sweet wine.Long wooden tables were covered in white cloths, glowing candles, and heavy silver plates filled with fruit. Dozens of rich capital lords and their wives sat in long rows along the sides of the hall, eating quietly while their eyes kept darting toward the main high table at the front of the room.I sat right beside Gryfyn at the center of the high table, dressed in my matching dark leather armor trimmed with royal crimson silk. My mother's heavy brass seal rested against my chest, catching the bright candle light every time I moved.Gryfyn sat so close to me that his broad shoulder pauldrons were brushing against my dark leather sleeve, his heavy body blocking out the cold drafts in the large room. His massive, calloused hand stayed resting firmly over my broad hip under the table, his thick fingers squeezing my flesh with a steady,
Vira’s POVThe double doors at the end of the long stone hallway swung wide open, showing the grand foyer of the inner palace.The grand foyer was huge, with high golden ceilings, soft velvet carpets, and tall white pillars that reached all the way up to the painted roof. Hundreds of powerful pack Alphas and noble lords from all over the continent were standing inside the room, talking in quiet voices while they waited for the noon assembly to begin. They were dressed in long velvet coats, silver swords, and bright gold rings, and they held all the power and wealth of the southern kingdoms in their hands.Gryfyn walked right beside me, his massive fingers locked tightly around my small hand. His broad, calloused palm felt burning hot against my skin, giving me a thick wave of sweet comfort and strength as we stepped across the high doorway together. He wore his heavy dark leather war armor trimmed with royal crimson silk, looking like a terrifying god of war who could crush any man
Vira’s POVThe inner hall of the royal tower was filled with bright sunlight and long tables covered in sweet fruit and cold wine.Groups of high-society noble ladies stood together near the high stone windows, their thin silk dresses rustling softly as they drank from silver cups. They wore tall golden crowns on their heads and bright jewels around their pale necks, and they had spent their whole lives living inside the warm capital walls without ever seeing a day of real cold or hard work.As Gryfyn and I walked through the heavy wooden doors, the noble ladies stopped talking and turned their eyes toward us. They looked at my thick black leather war armor, my broad hips, and my wide shoulders with dark, mean smiles on their faces. They were used to small, skinny women who starved themselves to fit into tight silk dresses, and they did not like seeing a strong woman who wore war gear and held a brass royal seal on her chest."Look at her wide waist and broad frame," one lady in a pin
Vira’s POVI sat inside the dark velvet carriage with my hands folded over my mother’s brass seal, feeling the heavy wooden wheels turn over the smooth white stones of the palace courtyard. The grand entry gates had opened wide for us under the royal seal of the Grand High King, but as our carriage rolled to a stop in the center of the outer courtyard, the air outside grew cold and still.Dozens of noble wolves were standing along the high marble balconies and stone walkways. They were dressed in fine silk cloaks, silver boots, and polished gold necklaces, and they all stared down at our carriage with dark, disgusted eyes. They had expected a weak, begging girl from the northern borders, but instead, they saw fifty heavy riders dressed in dark leather armor trimmed with royal crimson silk surrounding our iron transport.Before the carriage door could even open fully, Gryfyn stepped up to the wooden footboard. He looked like a giant god of dark war, his massive shoulders blocking out t
Vira’s POVThe oak table in our war tent trembled as the distant blare of a golden royal horn echoed through the eastern ravine.Outside the thick canvas walls, seven hundred heavy riders and fifty elite guards moved into immediate tactical formation. The crisp morning air turned electric with the sharp metallic clatter of broadswords being cleared from scabbards and the heavy thud of iron-shod hooves against the icy dirt."Stand down!" Kaelen’s voice thundered across the perimeter, smooth and authoritative. "Hold the line! It is a royal diplomatic escort under a white banner!"Inside the tent, Gryfyn didn't move toward his broadsword. Instead, his massive, calloused hand reached across my middle, drawing my broad frame flush against his heavy, dark-leather war armor. The crimson silk lining our high collars brushed against my skin, warm and familiar, as his dark wolf ink pulsed hot across his neck. His golden eyes flared with a wild, feral heat as his chin settled over my shoulder."







