warriors, ambassadors, and enough poli

its servants for the arri

ners. Six warriors marched behind him, their expressions grim. Two council re

lked at t

rfectly arranged, his expression controlled, and his golden eyes carried the fam

come fo

nded to lea

staircase, Lyra wa

onging to the body she inh

to look at Lyra when

turn away befor

s he abandoned. The promises he mad

mories

no longer c

n loo

eyes

eps fa

asn't

g down the stairc

amond necklace he had given he

loosely braided over one shoulder, and an

yr

ed the rema

ha V

w tigh

lling me A

prefer Yo

the palace g

e at the far end of the hall, l

ignor

ed to

n ta

vate

N

yes f

use

s something that concerns me, you can d

stared

reated every private conver

g him the smallest

red his

barrassing

miled

're fina

l fell

nds curled

epped f

You're a guest i

urned to

e here to spe

te. You're standi

for my

rds strike the a

s would have mad

ed like a clai

epped

ur possessi

snapped b

re my

remembered that when you humil

a privat

my throat in front of

ression

mething passed

gr

ge

uldn't

uickly r

being unre

tared

she l

lo

crue

e, in di

hear y

s face

his way to br

idn't as

away from a marriage

tch

rstand that this wasn't another argument

though searching for

nce waited outside

d memorized his

rself to sleep whenever he

oman w

hat to do with the stran

The

resentative s

e sacred bond between you and Alpha Voss. Your

rned to

ainty f

cks inv

I no longer wish to remain marrie

sentative

as is not merely a p

s you should

silence

ned his

lders mo

wed her ey

man la

tative clear

, please b

as though I were a treaty that can

d around

bond is sacred, why was I the

y ans

conti

ddess supposedly chose him for me? Why was I expected to rema

expressio

's en

rian. I

mbled, but sh

You didn't come to apologize. You didn't ask w

ew a b

e to col

as though she

ntire hall seemed t

spoke

you wan

n caught he

rontation several times si

perfect speeches. She had made him regret every cru

now, she discovered that she

d to tell

t my f

went

without wondering whether you'll approve. I want to sleep peac

yes b

e being loved doesn't f

le

d, "I never asked yo

ened-not with affectio

act

urned

. You never cared enough to see wha

time, Darian h

rice of P

ended the

ion clear. She will remain he

aze turned

authority ove

ho enters my territory a

to challenge the S

ression be

g is a politic

releas

N

ded like a s

stepped

r over a woman who i

ckered across

notic

id D

smiled wit

I s

voice d

, and you'll leave th

I touched

oug

pped bet

n looke

itself around their anger, as though she were

t me as though I'm

iately ste

an d

me. We can reso

ared a

r ho

r h

home for me t

searched

because

nced a

heart

e it

lame another man instead o

d. "This is b

expressio

e that you suddenly stop

pau

answer was

al Lyra ha

nherited some of that love, some of

erited the chance to

anything," she replied. "I expe

the council re

ply because it makes the Alliance more comfortable. And I will not

ive exchanged a glanc

es. The Southern Alliance may suspend th

fted he

suspen

stared

title, her position, and the pri

without asking any

tives withdrew to cons

ained wher

g a mistake,"

at him one

t least it will

he wal

rsation Ben

n the eastern bal

lvered by moonlight. A cold breeze tu

s hands resting on

make a lot of e

joine

ready

re more dangero

earn to deal

nced a

t know when to r

ee years. I'm trying

ilence

atched the clouds m

Kael

ave gone bac

ooked

ou have

es

expected

thought it wa

ially

ion remaine

t your will, Lyra. My protect

in her che

was best for her that the simple act o

u," she w

nod

ouncil will test you. Your blood has already awakened something be

toward the

me how to

studi

nges everything you b

the silver ma

voice that had

he was determ

l face th

oment, Kael

extended

pull he

o cla

to of

is hand before p

closed gentl

palm warmed, but this time

softly bet

breath

looke

t is

at their j

n't k

she beli

lain, that honesty meant more th

The

rthern Palace shor

secured Lyr

vinced Kael to

ved the apology he b

hrough the gates, his Beta h

sage from Blac

broke t

the fi

ead it

drained o

irregularities in the rec

as a secon

as not an or

ward the distant

ed whether he had ever truly

d rejected was the one pers