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
“I am trying.”“Try harder.”The spark continued forward, glowing brighter in the dim light. The rocky passage curved and then dropped sharply into a sloping tunnel. We slid down it, boots skidding on packed snow and smooth stone until the passage opened again to the outside. We were lower on the mo
Marek nodded once.I tried to nod, but the realm tugged at me so hard my breath hitched. My vision blurred, then sharpened in a painful rush. The glow under my skin brightened until my entire arm shone like a lantern.“Keep going,” I said, forcing the words through shaking teeth.Kaelan pushed the l
Light thundered through the sanctum. Dust exploded into the air. When the glare finally faded enough for me to see again, Lysandra was already advancing toward the throne dais, her dark power coiling around her like a second skin.And the king lay helpless at her feet.My father.Barely breathing.B
The palace groaned like a dying creature.Stone thundered somewhere above us as we ran through the lower cavern. The tremors rattled down the walls, sending dust raining over our shoulders. My magic still pulsed wildly under my skin, as if it did not know how to slow down after what I had unleashed







