Chapter Nine.

Mira led me to a room with a small bed, a woven blanket, and no windows. A cell, really just one without bars and locks.

“Kael will be down the hall, the fifth door to the left. The door doesn't lock from outside. You can try to run, though I wouldn't recommend that.”

“I'm not running.”

“ We'll see about that.” She turned to leave, then stopped. “ One last thing. The Black Wolves do have a saying: Trust is earned by blood, not words. Remember that tomorrow.”

I stood at the center of the room, listening to her footsteps fade down the hall.

I couldn't sleep. I lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, listening to my heartbeat.

The council could vote to execute me tomorrow. Send my body back to my father as a message, or they could keep me as a prisoner.

The knock made me jump

“Who's there?”

Kael stepped inside.

“Kael, you scared the hell out of me.”

“Good. This means you are paying attention.” He closed the door behind him. “ You can't sleep.”

“No. Can you?”

“Me either.” He rested his back on the wall. “The council is divided. Three votes for keeping you alive, two for execution.”

“How did you know?”

“I have eyes and ears in the council, Sierralya. Mira's vote is keeping you alive. The cold-eyed man Amarok wants you dead. The scarred elder Garrick has not yet decided. The other two will follow Mira's lead. So tomorrow's vote depends on Garrick.”

“And what does Garrick want?”

“Proof. He wants proof you are not like your father, proof you are not a spy.”

“How am I supposed to prove that?”

“That's what we need to figure out because tomorrow there's going to be a trial, and if you fail, you will be executed. Though I won't let that happen.”

“You might not have a choice.”

“I always have a choice, and I choose you, Sierralya. Mate Bond or not, I want you.

“Why? You barely know me.”

"That's an answer you'll have to find out for yourself.” His hands found my waist pulling me closer to himself, then a gentle kiss on my forehead.”

“Get some rest. I will be right outside.” He released me and left.

I woke up to people shouting.

I was on my feet before my eyes were fully open. The door opened, and a young boy, maybe nineteen, eyes filled with rage lunged at me.

“You caused this.”

“Caused what—” "I caught his wrist and twisted it behind his back hard. He let out a loud cry.

Just then, kael came in, grabbed the young wolf by the throat, and slammed him against the wall. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing.”

The young wolf struggled weakly. “ She— the White Wolves they attacked. Burned our farms, killed six of ours. They left a message. Return the princess or there will be a war.”

Kael tightened his grip on his throat. “Who sent you here?”

“Amarok. He said she brought this on us.”

“Amarok is a coward and a fool.” Kael threw him towards the door. “Get out. Now!”

The young wolf struggled to his feet and ran.

“Kael, if my father attacked—”

“Then he's an idiot.” Kael grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the door. “ Come on. We need to get to the council before Amarok convinces them to hand you over.”

We walked through corridors filled with wolves, all angry and staring with disgust.

“Give us the White Wolf! She has brought war to our gates!”

Kael didn't slow down. He kept moving one hand on his blade, the other on my wrist, pulling me forward.

We reached the council chamber.

The doors were opened, and the council had already assembled. But Garrick's seat was empty.

Amarok stood at the center of the room, addressing the others. “Aldric Ainsworth has launched an attack, burned our farms, killed our people. She is a curse. A poison, and we must cut her off before she kills us all.”

Kael cut in. “She didn’t attack us, Aldric did. Aldric would've attacked eventually. He's been looking for an excuse for years.”

“And you gave him one!” Amarok's voice thundered enough to collapse a building. He turned to the rest of the council. “I call for an immediate vote. We return the princess back to Moonveil and end this before it begins.”

Mira's expression went cold. “ We agreed to vote at dawn.”

“It is dawn.” Amarok pointed at the window— pale light was indeed beginning to filter through.

“Very well.” Mira nodded. “All in the favor of returning princess Sierralya to her father, hands up.”

Amarok's hand went up immediately. One other Council member raised their hand. Two votes.

“All opposed.”

Mira's hand went up, and the fourth council member raised his as well. Two votes.

Mira's eyes turned to the empty chair. “ Garrick hasn't arrived yet.”

“Then we wait.” Kael said.

“ We don't have time to wait.” Amarok immediately cut in. “Every moment she stays here, we risk an attack from her father. More deaths. We should send her back now.”

“You send her back, and you condemn her to death.” Kael stepped forward.”Her father will execute her the moment she's in custody. You know that.”

“Better her than us.”

“She's my mate. She's the fulfillment of the prophecy.

“The prophecy. Of course, you'd hide behind an ancient superstition. And your mate bond doesn't outweigh the lives of our pack.”

The air in the room turned cold.

“Enough.” Mira's voice cut through the tension. “ We wait for Garrick. We vote when the council is complete. Those are the rules.”

“The rules -"

“Are not negotiable. Stand down, Amarok, or I will remove you from the council myself.”

“Fine. We wait, but know this princess every death that follows is in your hands.”

Before I could respond, Garrick entered, moving slowly like every step hurts.

“Apologies for my lateness. I was attending to the wounded from this morning's attack. He turned to me and studied me for a long moment, then moved to his seat and sat down.

“Then let's vote.”

“All in favor of returning her.” Mira asked again.

Amarok's hand, the other council member.

“All opposed.”

Mira's hand, the fourth council member. Garrick looked at me like he was seeing something the others couldn't. Then, slowly, he raised his hand.

“You are making a huge mistake.” Amarok's face went pale.

“Perhaps. But it's my mistake to make.” Garrick's mouth twisted into something that might have been a smile.

Mira turned to me. “Princess Sierralya, you may remain in Shadowpeak. But know this, your stay here is conditional. One more death traced back to you, and I won't be able to stop them from throwing you to your father.” Mira stood. “This meeting is over.”

Amarok said nothing, just turned and left angrily.

I released a breath I didn't know I was holding.

Leaving me standing in the Council chamber with Kael and the weight of what just happened pressing down on me.

I leaned into him. Let myself feel safe for just a moment.

Even though I knew—we both knew—this was far from over.