ra

lpha of his tier. My father's voice echoed in my memory from the days when I sat in on his trade

nse, defensive crouch of a slave. I straightened my spine, lifting my chin t

voice ring out in the damp tunnel. "I am a woman. But I am also the only th

flashing with condescension. "The Mad King doesn't need soothing. He doe

my hand and pointed a dirty fing

tly. "Why aren't you hearing the sound of him sma

absolute. With his enhanced hearing, he knew better than anyone that the us

His aura flared, heavy and suffocating. "Wha

ng to yield an inch of ground. "It's

e. I will keep him calm. I will ensure he doesn't hit his frenzy cycle and shatter your c

curled his lips. "A human slave, covered in mud, trying to negotiate

two months. I've read the old files. I know the millennial atmospheric shift drives all Vora into an uncontrollable frenzy. If the

ng for. The Long Night wasn't just a storm; it was the biological

sweeping over my face, re-evaluating exactly w

ench coat. He pulled out a heavy, silver badge bearing t

cold metal biti

ery, replaced by cold, hard business. "I will have your s

was dragged into the sorting center finally lifted. A hot prickle of tea

ng roar ripped through the

in my skull. The solid rock wall separating the

he air as Kaelen smashed straigh

He charged into the buffer zone, his massive

ted, his fingernails elongating into lethal, curve

't lunge for Ca

his colossal bulk sideways. He became an impenetrable, black mounta

d-soaked fangs, mere inches from the Consul's neck, and unleashed

apex aura hit Cassian like a physical blow. The Consul was thrown backw

gainst his front leg. I could feel the violent, rhyt

crimson eye flicked down to me, scanning my body to ensure I wasn't bleeding. O

Vora law dictated that a royal would defend his 'fated hoard' with his li

lowly, raising his ha

ietly, before turning and vanishing

n, broken only by Kaelen'

his crimson eyes locking onto me, emitting a