جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 110

LeahI was nervous. I was whatever word existed beyond nervous, the kind that made your hands useless and your reflection look like a stranger. I stood in front of the mirror, fidgeting with the velvet of my sleeves, trying to recognize the woman staring back at me. The dress was deep blue, rich as a midnight sky, with white fur lining the neckline that brushed against my collarbones every time I breathed. Small diamonds were studded across the entire gown, catching light from every angle, scattering tiny constellations across the stone walls of the preparation room.I looked like a queen.The thought hit me sideways, and I had to grip the edge of the vanity to steady myself. I wasn't sure I was ready to be what that reflection was showing me.“Look at you.” Keanu's voice came from behind me, warm with pride I could hear before I even turned around. “My baby sister is all grown up, came back from the dead, killed an ancient witch, and is about to be a queen.”He trotted up and wrapped

LeahNot a sound from Darien. Not a trick of magic. The golden lion opened its jaws and released a roar that shook the air with enough force to press against my chest. The sound rolled outward in concentric waves, echoing off the coliseum walls, shaking loose snow from the railings, vibrating through the stone beneath our feet.A rush of warm air circled us. It swept around Darien and me in a spiral, pressing my dress against my legs, lifting loose strands of hair from my face. I felt Darien's grip tighten on my hand. He pulled me closer, his body shielding mine on instinct, his silver eyes wide. He didn't understand what was happening. Neither did I.The snowflakes stopped.Not slowly, the way a storm dies down. All at once. Every flake suspended in the air froze, hung motionless for one bre

DarienLeah went to see Keanu, and I headed down the stairs. The great hall had been transformed. This was the true great hall of the lycan kingdom. Our banners were raised and flying high. The Lycan Kingdom was back and screaming it to the world.Cain found me before I'd made it ten steps inside.“Officers are positioned at every entrance,” he said, falling into step beside me. No greeting. No pleasantries. Straight to the briefing, which was exactly what I needed. “Ronan has the east corridor. Kael is covering the courtyard exits. Turk has the main doors.”“And the perimeter?”“Three teams rotating in two-hour shifts. If anyone so much as sneezes in the wrong direction within a mile of this castle, I'll

 DarienShane stood near the far wall, positioned behind a couple of officers from Anton's pack. He wasn't talking to anyone. Wasn't eating. Wasn't doing any of the things a person does at a banquet when they're comfortable being there. He was standing very still, with a glass he hadn't touched held loosely at his side, and his eyes were fixed on Leah.I recognized the look. The look of a man watching something he'd lost and only now understanding the full scope of what he'd thrown away.But it was more than regret.His gaze tracked her movements with a focus that bordered on fixation. When she laughed at something Anton said, I watched Shane's jaw clench. When she tucked her hair behind her ear, I saw his fingers tighten around his glass. When she leaned back in

LeahThe banquet had ended well past midnight, but the gathering was far from over.Tonight had been the introductions. The feast. The spectacle of it all. But Darien had planned this as a multi-day event, and I understood why. You didn't earn the trust of the alphas over wine and roasted venison. That took time. It took sitting across from them in smaller rooms, hearing their grievances, learning the names of their officers and the borders of their lands. It took proving that the king on the throne wasn't just a title but someone with strength and wisdom. The first night was the show. Tomorrow was when the real work began.I'd spent the last stretch of the evening with Anton, catching up on everything that had happened since I left. He'd stayed close, his arm slung around me like he was afraid I'd vanish if he let go. Keanu had joined us for dessert, and the three of us had laughed and talked until the hall thinned and the candles burned low. It felt nice to be able to talk like this