ver imagined juggling. Each demands something I'm no

-

through the grand hallway, pulling me from my thoughts. I

ows, and my suspi

push her!" on

ipped!" comes the

s a smaller, more

middle of what looks like a battlefield. A shattered vase l

heir sister, Lily, who's sitting on the ground, her

n here?" I ask,

y faces tur

ne!" Eli b

e retorts. "Li

, crossing her arms in a perfec

eir antics remind me of simpler days-days when my o

each of them in turn. "Who

widen. "Not me!" t

rushing a strand of hair fr

r head, her p

ow, all three of you are going t

s if she's about to argue, but a

the vase, I can't help but feel a pang of affection. Th

-

the garden under the nanny's supervis

a

aid to confront him. But now, I have no such fear. I've sent trusted spi

just a desire;

of justice consume me entirely

-

he doesn't voice. His touch brushes my hand, but I pull away instinct

f of that constantly, but it doe

e says, his voice low eno

reply, focusi

his tone questioning.

ray eyes. There's suspicion there now, and

" I say, forcing

s, but he doesn

-

n the study, staring at the fli

or

thoughts. I look up to see her standing

in you?"

cour

pite her years. For a moment, she studies me in silence, an

stant lately,"

she holds up a hand. "I'm not he

a mother to turn to for advice. Now, this woman-this stranger-off

una, as a mother. But you must learn to balance th

ue weight I carry, but she's right. I can't let m

ay, my voice thi

hand warm as it covers mine. "You'

t time in years-perhaps ever-I feel

-

through the garden, a messenger arrives with a se

n it to know it's f

see him standing a few feet away, his eyes na

s, his tone casual bu

y, slipping the letter in

htens. "Are

ice firm. "Just some

nt longer before he nods, though

-

my room and tear open the envelop

with the Alpha of a rogue

ain's betrayal runs d

is conspiring with rogues, he's a threa

plan my next move, a kn

am

s L

standing there, clutching

she asks, her w

ter still clutched in my hand, the wei

or mot

or

shouldn't b