t chorus that echoes off the buildings outside. Red and blue light begins to flicker fa

eassert itself thr

ighbors. E

I und

h of a small explosion. The door is splintered beyond repair, the hallway wall cracked from where the

voice hoarse but steady enough.

e what you saw,"

"That isn't how

y and back again. "My men are al

rse th

black from

ho called

anger creeping in beneath the f

ts. "Your awakening acce

ken

chest again, though the heat is qui

aised voices. Someone shouts about structural damage.

e, lowering his voice.

where with you," I

rpens. "They will not attack again tonight," he says. "Not with

e life," I cut in. "I don

more than his dominance ever did. "You have

ains of my door is fi

ce calls. "Is a

thing to even out. This is familiar territ

ck," Kae

for a living," I reply

ns drawn but angled downward. Their expressions shif

?" one of them asks

back inst

is

in a

a drama

ly is n

, but I keep m

" I say carefully. "Two me

second officer asks, sta

osing each word with clinical p

a look that clearly

weapons?" t

ly. "Blunt force. P

s drift again to the damage that

hurt?"

I an

least,

tails that give them enough to document but nothing that edges toward impossible. I do not mention glowing

management flood the hallway. Neighbors whi

he noise and flashin

pu

stant

fa

m my chest outwar

stil

chi

it

e. Structural engineers are called. Statements are logged. Temporary boards are nai

e small balcony attached to my apartment, needing a

ler now, the cit

dled tha

the shadows at the fa

startle t

ps I

ime, dark shirt replaced, no trace of blood visible. In the dim light

d," I say without tur

rol is unstable. If you had reacted again, the a

n settles heav

would lose co

u would,"

in his tone is

s fa

though I am not cold. "What ex

lf," he says. "Your

t have

says gently.

ot den

ow, but it remains, like a second c

aled?" I ask a

ns slightly. "

om

d kill you before yo

ds sink

rn. Royal blood. What

nswering, as though measuring ho

ity beyond strength alone," he begins. "Blood that could

e is one

es

ou expect me to believe I'm some kind of supern

stence disrupts power," he says. "And

ce stretches

licker below, ord

bout me," I

es

the ho

es

hits harder

naware," I continue. "You

e safer

turning to face him fully

something conflicted pa

h of us,

I find is something more complicated-regre

mate," I say. "Did

mine steadily

you said

replies. "Without awakening,

d n

t has

pulses faintly, as if

don't get to decide that my life changes ove

it," he says evenl

enient," I r

not threatening

says, voice lowering, "I would have t

that statem

uld have gone q

"I think you wo

er of respect m

ntinues. "They have seen you. They f

o?" I

eriment. Those wh

e red-eyed wolve

arrie

bloo

they were?" I

not independent. Th

ho

who believes power should b

you?"

ower should

inction

impo

ed by yo

es

kes my pulse quicken again, t

ce car pulls awa

begins t

stay here,

I refuse

I can feel the warmth of his body, the

arby," he says. "Wheth

m for a lo

Who commands wolves. Who claims me with

y know now,"

es

happen

y toward the dark hor

low and resolute, "Nigh

en us like a storm c

a

etaph

poli

e

how, imp

nters