*Kieran* “That was quite a speech,” Father says coldly, coming to stand within inches of my face. “You’ve certainly spun quite a tale.” He’s saying this for the benefit of those around us, I know. The fury blazing in my eyes is a sharp reminder of the truth of my words. When he deems someone a thr
King Cole must not be too far away, which is a relief. The moment we cross into Escuro, he can help us regroup. Even if most of the army followed my lead, my father will not stop until every last one of us is dead. I can only hope that the soldiers in Escuro have prepared in some way. There weren’t
*Raven*The night drags on, heavy with anticipation as we wait for the soldiers to arrive. Mother and Father don’t let go of each other for much more than a moment. When they aren’t holding each other, they’re simply gazing at each other. Mother looks at Father like he’s the most precious thing in t
“It’s okay, Kieran,” I comfort him. “We’re ready for them. While you’ve been gone, we’ve been working on a plan. I just need you to get yourself and your followers across the river. Once you do, I’ll take care of the rest.” My heart swells with pride at the thought. There’s something so satisfying
KieranWith Raven’s last words—I love you more than you can imagine—ringing in my ears, I pound across the open plain toward the river that is apparently our only hope of survival. We left the forest half an hour ago, and since then, my father’s forces have been gathering behind us. More men stayed
RavenEscurians and people from Dun’s Crossing celebrate all around me, but I only have eyes for a bloodstained, silver wolf on the other side of the river. I shove through the crowd, desperate to touch him and know that he’s safe. That we all are.King Gavin is dead!Kieran seems to have the same i
KieranI run my thumb nervously over the back of Raven’s hand as Fleming, the royal healer, looks her over in his study. The wizened old man mumbles to himself as he works but never anything I can understand. My heart pounds. I will not have gone through all of this to lose my wife at the end. I wil
“May the Moon Goddess bless and keep you,” Aylin says. “And may we all raise our voices in honor of Alpha King Kieran Solberg and Luna Queen Raven Blake of Dun’s Crossing!”Howls split the air just as easily as a grin splits my face. I kiss my wife.With the ceremony over, we leave the throne room f
Anwen grunts in pain. “Okay, that’s enough.”“Just a moment longer,” I plead.Out of the corner of my eye, I see his indulgent smile.After another moment, my family unwinds themselves from me. I exhale in a gust as my pain becomes manageable again. Tess perches on the edge of the seemingly wooden t
EstrellaI float for a long time in darkness. Not exactly here or absent. Not exactly comfortable or in pain. Not very much at all.Then, my whole body flames back to screaming, torturous life at once. I am the heart of an inferno, consuming everything that I am to produce the flame. A hoarse, ragge
Like she should be. Fuck. If Estrella is already gone somehow, already looking down on me, and she sees me abandoning all the progress I’ve made the second she’s not watching, she’s going to find a way to become a ghost just to kick my ass.I start pacing. Raven takes a dropper of the liquid, winces
AnwenSomeone screams. I think it might be me.I slide across the glass-covered floor to Estrella’s side and wrap my arms around her. My heart hammers.“No, no, no,” I mumble. “You can’t—not after—please.” My voice breaks on the last word.Her body is still warm. That has to mean something. It fucki
Behind me, Estrella sucks in a breath. Fabric rustles. Every instinct screams to keep my eyes on Floyd—I glance back at her. She is pushing into a sitting position. The black veins climbing up her throat threaten to choke me, but she nods. Sways, nearly falls, but fucking nods and picks a piece of
AnwenI pluck at the neck of my wedding clothes and look at myself in the mirror.“You look like shit,” Baz says from the bed behind me. Despite Estrella’s efforts, he’s still healing.“Thanks.” He’s right, though. Sundrop’s bright colors just kind of make me look sick. And the damned thing is so st
The cold. If it hurts enough, Anwen will feel me. He’ll know. And he’ll free me from this Goddess-damned ice so I can tear Floyd Winters limb from limb, as he deserves. That’s what Floyd missed.I grind the tender flesh of my ankles against the jagged edge of my prison.“You’re barely fucking civili
EstrellaMy heart thunders against my ribcage. My pulse roars. Mother, Castor, Tess—all gone. And with the wedding in an hour, I cannot yet mind-link to Anwen. I am alone.With the man who murdered my father.An oil-slick smile splits Floyd’s face as he circles me. The dagger in his hand shines. I l
King Andri clears his throat loudly. “In Snowcrest Canyon, it is rude to have a private conversation in public.”“Apologies.” Kieran dips his head, but I catch the scowl he’s hiding. “Prince Anwen was curious about how Prince Hollis came to hold such a position of power.”I smile as surprise washes