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.
DamonMy eyes kept straying to the signed agreement as I walked. I’d memorized every word when I sealed it, every carefully inked lie that now bound me to the Ashfords and, by extension, to Ella’s poison.Outwardly I was calm. Inwardly, Zane paced like a caged predator, claws scraping against bone,
LilaThe sun hadn’t risen fully yet, but I was already dressed. Wrapped in a soft shawl, standing at the edge of the window, I watched the world blur into golden light.I could see the garden path from here—the one where Damon first asked me to trust him. It felt like a lifetime ago.My fingers tigh
DamonI thrust the parchment list into Ronan’s hands, fingers still trembling with restraint.“Get this to the healer,” I snapped. “Now. Tell her what it is—tell her who it came from.”Ronan looked at me, eyes narrowing. “Your Majes—”“Go.”He nodded once and disappeared out of the room without anot
DamonJackson was already waiting for me in the back corner of the restricted wing, lantern burning low beside a pile of neatly stacked volumes.He was so focused that he didn’t notice as I approached, not until I stopped at the table and said quietly, “What did you find?”“You’ll want to see this,”







