LOGINThe portal burst open in a swirl of silver and gold, light scattering across the snow in shimmering waves. Wolves skidded to a halt mid snowball war. Pups froze with handfuls of snow. Even Marek paused with a snowball raised above his head.The king stepped through.And immediately tripped over a sl
I strung lights across the top of the house, weaving them around the chimney and down the far side. Magic flickered from my fingertips, helping the strands cling perfectly in place. Every spark of golden light that escaped curled like a lazy ribbon in the air.Someone below cleared their throat loud
Snow blanketed the entire pack territory in soft, perfect drifts. It made everything look gentle, like the world had been iced with sugar. The trees bowed under the weight of white powder, branches sparkling in the afternoon light. Smoke curled from chimneys. Laughter drifted through the cold air. M
The king watched silently. Marek nodded slowly beside me, jaw tight with agreement.Kaelan looked between us, breath shaking. His voice dropped to a whisper. “You do not understand. I… I spent so long believing I would never amount to anything. I believed I was only useful as your protector. Your sh
The snow had nearly stopped falling by the time the king summoned us. Only a few flakes drifted lazily through the gray morning sky. Wolves formed a loose circle around the clearing, whispering quietly among themselves, tension flowing through them like an undercurrent.The portal behind the king cr
His breath shuddered.I leaned closer, forehead resting against his.“I could not do it.”Marek closed his eyes, attempting to hold himself together, but his hands trembled at his sides.“I love you,” I whispered. “I love this pack. I love this world. I love who I am here.”He opened his eyes, and e
My breath trembled. “I still feel like I am.”Marek shifted slightly. His shoulder brushed mine with the smallest movement, nothing more than a whisper of contact, but it sent a warm shock down my spine.“You are safe here,” he said, voice steady. “You are safe with us.”I laughed once under my brea
“You are very interesting,” he insisted warmly.I frowned lightly, not understanding why he looked at me that way, like I was glowing.Before he could say another word, the kitchen door swung open.Marek stepped inside.He immediately slowed to a stop. His eyes locked on me. Then they drifted to the
THIRD PERSON POVTHE HIGH REALM I had always known Lysandra and Seraphine were venom dressed in silk, but I had never expected the poison to turn toward me so quickly. Not until the council meeting ended and I saw the way Seraphine’s eyes slid over me. Not with affection. Not with triumph.Calculat
The steward’s breath hitched. “Then who will rule.”“Seraphine,” I said darkly. “Or Lysandra through her. Either way, the realm is lost.”The room felt colder.The guard finally spoke. “So what do you want us to do?”“Help me get to the king’s chamber,” I said. “Help me break the enchantment. Help m







