"....Never happened before.""What could this mean?"Another voice intersects, "What else could it mean?""When Ivar told me about the girl, I doubted... But now my suspicions are proven. She really is an asset. The main asset."Standing in front of the huge library doors, my stomach churns when I wonder what this could mean for me. The corridors are quiet, all the intakes having moved to the library for the afternoon. Would I have a close watch put on me?Would this affect my escape plan with Umber?The door opens and Herra Melicia looks out, countenance severe as ever. "You may go now. Head to the library. Tomorrow you meet with master Ivar."She watches my face, as if searching for a reaction. I don't give her one.When she closes the doors once more, I start down the hall. I will be seeing Ivar tomorrow? My fingers throb and when I look down, I see short claws have shot out. A rush of dread. I fold my hands and fist them to

The hallways are quiet. After bidding Umber good night, I inch down to my room quietly. I close the door behind me, leaning against it by degrees. When I push off the hard surface, I freeze on seeing someone in the middle of the room.Heidi. I mouth the word, unable to speak it. I clear my throat. "I thought you'd be asleep."Those shuttered eyes hold mine. "Where were you?""I was... I was a bit thirsty so I went down to the kitchens."Wordlessly she gazes in the direction of my bed. On the table beside it sits a glass of water.My stomach knots.Her eyes come back to mine. A silent scoff. "Watch your back."The hairs on my nape rise. Her words follow me to the training camp early next morning. And when the sun rises high and we're all in the library, the words are still stuck to my mind like a terrible song. Umber looks at me from the side of her eyes. "Relax," she whispers. Because for some reason, the Herras' have dec

Next week approaches too soon. Flakes of snow drift down languidly, swirling in the frigid air. King Orion's weathered face beams as we shake hands. "Malcolm. Thank you for extending the invitation."I nod. "My pleasure." I gaze past him, seeing no one else. "And your daughters?""They will be coming at a later time. I just wanted us to have a little man to man."For all his boisterous tone, his blue eyes reveal nothing. "Alright," I say. "Come, then. Let's head to my office."His bodyguards trail behind him as we near the sprawling front steps wrapping around the building. They are dressed in the official colours of the Eld, white and blue. Till today, no one could glean any substantial information about their dimension. No one even knows how they fight, or the powers they weild. Their combat skills, however, are legendary.My own guards stand sentinel behind the columns riding down the walls of the castle. Soon the double doors are opened to us a

I welcome the Lunas to the castle the next day. After introductions are done, we head to the dinning hall. The women are dressed impeccably, covered in expensive jewelries and even more outrageously expensive clothes. I don't miss the underlaying tint of competitiveness in the air. Most of the women don't come alone. As I'd hoped, they brought their courts and retinue as well: equally lavishly dressed female wolves who hung on their Luna's every word.When I take my seat at the table, a hush falls over the hall. A riot of scents flay the air, but beneath the cloying layers I pick up on ill-concealed interest."Welcome," I say. "I am glad you all managed to make it here on such short notice. I know you're saddled as it is with running your packs, but I ask that you extend the warm qualities particular to your stations as Lunas to the daughters of the Eld king." I motion to Elodie and her sister. Imatra's missing.The women turn their att

GWEN___"That's her."Heidi's words bring a chill sweeping through the air. The crowd parts automatically, distancing from I and Umber like we're ticking bombs about to go off. Herra Eunice's face flushes red with anger and she starts to speak. I don't think, I just let my instincts take over. The pulse on her neck beats faster and her words cut off abruptly. A perplexed expression dawns on her face before a spurt of blood gushes out of her mouth and into the air.People scream, lurching back, and it's all the distraction I need. I grab Umber's hand and in seconds we're running down the sand, toward the vast sea.Above the wind, she screams, "What are you doing!?""I don't know!""We don't have a boat, Gwen! How are we going to sail through?"When we're just a foot away, I let go of her hand. Mid-run, I slice an arm through the air in a series of practiced movements, praying to god the