— You must have made a big impression on Azerai — the wolf indicates the cape on my shoulders.—Actually, I thought he was quite... — I swallow the harsh word that threatens to escape me. — rude — complete with disgust.Miguel shakes his face with the ghost of a smile around his mouth.— My brother doesn't trust anyone, and even less a woman.- Why? — I ask reflexively when we arrive at a staircase that goes up and another that goes down.The wolf turns towards me a little.Hesitates.— He thinks you have too much power — he says enigmatically and points to the stairs going up. —The fen are down there. Let's go up.— Has a woman broken his heart? — I insist, based entirely on the romance books I’ve been reading.Miguel gives me a strange look over his shoulder as we climb, but responds anyway.— He doesn't let any of them get close enough to do that.The tone is dry enough to let me know the conversation is over.We went up very little before reaching another corridor.The wolf hesita

It is with regret and concern that I leave Arina in Reeina's care and ask the guards to take me to her Wolf King, but I reassure myself that I will be brief.I like Reeina, of course, although after recent events I find it difficult to trust any wolf.The guards take me to the throne room, where Michael is meeting with his Council and some members of the other Great Houses.They say I can't come in and that I must wait in the hallway, so one of them comes in to announce me.I wait for at least half an hour standing there, pacing back and forth, my mind filled with anger and resentment, until the door opens and Miguel comes out.He's wearing the heavy crown of fangs over his braided hair, the stiff dark clothes making him appear taller, almost swallowing me like a shadow.I have a strange, warm feeling in my chest seeing him after the last few days, and I convince myself that it's just gratitude, and that I couldn't thank him for rescuing my Sister, but I push it to the back of my mind

— They're the oldest fen — Reeina tells me as we walk back together to the room I share with Arina.Knowing that the fen and guards don't want us here really hits me harder than I imagined, but I console myself with the idea that I feel this way because it's actually not pleasant for anyone to know they're not wanted around. Only that.—They were here when His Superior Majesty, the Wolf King Erebus, took the continent. The war still haunts them. Many fen had to fight alongside the army, and most ended up dying. They resent each other.— It was your people who came and dominated the continent with war, Reeina. I dare say they have no right to resent us.She squints her eyes and lips.I know I was rude.I'm talking about your people. She loves them.— Reeina-...— You're right, Lyn — he says with an unhappy sigh. — We brought the war, but this was our home too. It was here that Arden united his spirit with the human prince. The king of men cast us out. There were few of us, divided into

I see your hand tighten on the towel knot.— Am I attractive to you, Kim?The question hits me hard in the chest. I feel the impact on my legs. I think it would be a great idea to sit down before I fall, but if I sit down then it will be harder to leave.I clear my throat.I can't answer that directly. It would be too embarrassing.— I think your queen-...— I want to know about you — Miguel cuts me off. — Tell me, Kim. I see how you look at my body. Is it curiosity, as you have no experience with males, or is it something else?He waits.I feel my chest rising and falling with my breathing too fast and I try to calm down.I don't need to answer that.I dont need.— It's curiosity — I blurt out before I can stop myself.Miguel remains silent for a long, long time.I can't read your expression.He seems angry and at the same time...— Let me satisfy you — he asks hoarsely.— W-What?— Your curiosity. Let me satisfy you — she proposes.I would never do that, I think as my body obeys, an

I can even see little ice pebbles in the water as we bathe.Arina is clearly more relaxed in the cold water, and so am I.The restlessness is gone.I feel good again.This is what I notice in the cannis females that surround us.There are at least five dozen of them here with us in the bathing rooms. Reeina said that they occupy the most diverse positions in the fortress. They are scholars, auri fens, engineers, tzauris. They talk to each other, and I notice that they try to stay submerged with as much of their body as they can, for as long as possible.The feeling of being among so many women takes me back to my times on the Island of the Goddess, with my Sisters.I think Arina thinks the same when I see her looking around.An intense feminine energy flows around us. It's calm, familiar. There is no auri fen serving anyone today. They are in the water too. In the corner, near the door, there is a large table with refreshing food and drinks, and everyone can go there and serve themsel