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 library should have felt safe. But the tall shelves rose like sentinels, stacked high with volumes standing guard.My feet had taken me here. Not to read, my head was too foggy for that, but to be somewhere quiet, far from the council chamber or the royal wing or Damon.The guards followed
LilaThe door to Damon’s study gave under my hand with a soft groan, and the smell hit me first: ink, wax, steel oil, and him. Always him.The room was half-shadowed despite the daylight, the tall windows crosshatched with lattice that carved the sun into bars across the floor.The bars felt appropr
Right now, Lila needed someone.I squeezed her hands gently, silently making a promise I didn’t dare speak aloud: I’ll get you free, one way or another.Her fingers twitched faintly under mine, as if part of her wanted to pull away but another part, the part that still believed in something, kept he
The moon hung low, pale light spilling through the window and painting silver across my skin. My reflection stared back faintly in the windowpane: hollow-eyed, hair unkempt, lips dry and cracked. I didn’t recognize her.How long had it been since I’d slept well? Since I’d eaten more than a few bites







