Mag-log inThe 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
“That is worse.”“It usually is.”She put both hands on her head as if trying to physically shove the entire prophecy out of her skull. “This is ridiculous. Completely ridiculous. The realm must be malfunctioning.”“It does not malfunction.”“It chose a queen who cannot stand still without causing a
“You are still in control,” he murmured in my ear. “The magic is responding to you. Not the other way around.”“It does not feel like that.”“Then trust me.”Trust.A simple word. One that had weight and scars wrapped inside it.I clenched my fists, pressed both palms against the ice, and tried to b
The portal snapped shut like a throat swallowing a scream.One second Aveline’s fingers were brushing his. The next she was gone, pulled backward by a violent burst of magic that exploded in a flash of gold and white. The shockwave hit him hard enough to send him crashing onto his back, breath punch
**THIRD PERSON POV**The tear widened with a shriek of violent magic.Wind ripped through the clearing, pulling at clothing and hair, dragging leaves and snow upward into the swirling light. Marek felt the pull in every muscle, every nerve, every heartbeat. The spark residue on his sleeve throbbed h







