LOGINLilaIt’s strange how the smallest sound, like the brush of quill to parchment, can fill a room with thoughts.The palace beyond our chambers is silent now, its pulse softened to the rhythm of domestic life. I can hear faint laughter drifting through the open balcony doors: the twins chasing each ot
DamonSomewhere below, laughter spills faintly through the gardens: high, bright, unguarded. The twins again, playing well-past their bedtime but I don’t have the heart to call them inside.I walk the long hall that leads from the council chamber to our private suite, the torches low, their flames s
Every tree leans toward the wind, every leaf trembles like it recognizes us.Ruby hums beneath my ribs, her joy is an endless echo. Faster, she urges. The world will wait for us to slow down later.So we run.Zane’s golden form stays just ahead, his stride long and sure, the light from the moon catc
LilaI could feel it in the stone beneath my bare feet, in the calm rhythm of the sentries’ hearts beyond the gates: the kingdom was in a time of peace.I slipped through the eastern corridor, skirts gathered in one hand, the cool floor pressing against my soles. When I reached the stables, I found
The crowd quieted instantly as she lifted her hands over the flame. The moon above flared brighter, its light spilling across her skin like liquid light.This was her kingdom. Our kingdom. I realized it had never really been mine alone.LilaThe fire crackled, alive and breathing. Its gold bled into
DamonThe air burned cold and clean beneath the full moon.From the dais, I could see the courtyard stretch endlessly below; lanterns hanging from the ramparts, petals scattered across stone, banners of every Pack rippling in the silver wind.Wolves, healers, and warriors stood shoulder to shoulder.
LilaThe fever came back slowly, I didn’t notice at first. It was the chill that never quite left my fingers, the way light blurred at the edges of my vision. Then the trembling started; small at first, then it was harder to ignore.I’d tried to sit up on my own. The room spun.“Careful,” came a voi
And I couldn’t disturb whatever peace and rest she had found.Not tonight.I turned away, one hand lingering briefly on the doorframe.Coward, Zane growled low in my mind. There was no anger to it. But I said nothing in response, because he wasn’t wrong.My thoughts were too busy to let me rest, and
I stood again and went to the basin, splashing cold water over my face, letting it drip from my jaw onto the front of my tunic. My reflection stared back from the darkened mirror—too tired, too pale, too uncertain.Then I sat at the desk, letter before me, unopened still. I rested both hands flat on
DamonThe council chamber was still humming with posturing and layered innuendo when the phrase drifted past me, though I was sure it wasn’t meant for my ears.“…illegitimate heirs are always the most dangerous,” one of the lesser lords muttered, lips half-concealed behind a goblet of mulled wine.I







