l's

heard the roaring crash of ocean tides louder, more violent than before. Even the

ing wa

gain, but a primal instinct urged me awake. It

office. If I couldn't sleep, I might as well get some work done. I briefly conside

s when I heard hurried footsteps pounding

kn

ed, already sen

a, stepped in,

keeping my voice even, though the

olf has been spotted near the Nor

ghtened

ere's a magical barrier. We coul

ic made my s

lready changing into a more suit

f had arrived. Together, we tel

the air like mist. The forest was shrouded in shadows, the moonlight unable to

e of the Dar

ppressive air, came a scent del

earth. Vanilla. And

itched, lengthened involuntarily. I looked at Ma

less, encased in a shimmering, ocean-blue magical sphere

nd the closer I moved, the stronger the scent becam

eyes wide. "The lost ro

ly to him. "Ar

er kind. The Healer of the Seas. The prophesied ha

d along the barrier, his

e get in?

of ocean water, and poured it onto th

shifted, the tid

ises, the o

returns, the

d king

alance is

agical sphere burst, throwing

My control slipped. I took one look at her pale

at

ed. Even the f

't wanted to. But my instincts b

hind clouds, and her sc

threatening to override everything. And

he silence. "The Cold

"You knew this pro

ratulations, my king. You

her carefully into my arms

in my chamber. I laid

en and Matif, and they

cent, I knew she was an omega... yet the power r

me with a mate from the very sp

ye

t. Deeper than

a shrill scream to

ae

ianna standing at the door

down," I said, ru

snapped, stormin

atter?" I

wolf in your bed?" she shrie

e you. And next time, rememb

ed, but she turne

ned back only to meet a pa

was

m. I'd seen countless people terrified of me before I k

you want from me?" she

is. The Va

re I felt her he

ow did I

ht you here." I let the word trespassed hang in the

She sat up abrup

e trembled... then shattered,

red a

erful w

said, "but I ca

r my life! I didn't even know where I was going. Please..

my grip from her wr

id quietly. "You reek of old magic

, eyes lock

belong