He sees the wolf. The soul. The truth underneath the mask, she replied. That’s more than most have ever bothered to look for.“The suspense is killing me, you know that, right?” Emma’s voice broke through my thoughts.I blinked, slowly lowering the parchment. My fingers smoothed it out automatically
DamonThe fire in my study had burned low, casting thin ribbons of amber across the desk. I didn’t need warmth tonight. I needed answers.Ronan arrived just after first bell, punctual as always, though I knew him well enough to spot the tension riding his spine. He shut the door behind him with quie
I turned from the window. “Send her away, Ronan. And make sure no one follows her out.”He left without another word. And I was alone in a room where everything I thought I knew about loyalty had just been shattered.I left the study not long after Ronan. The corridors were quiet at this hour but I
LilaThe shift was subtle, but I felt a distance in Damon’s gaze. The way his expression cooled just slightly when I entered the room. No trace of the man who had kissed me with fire or sent heartfelt notes in the morning.And I had no idea why. If Vanessa had told him who I was I’d be expelled or d
But I couldn’t.I turned and walked out of the room with the truth still burning on my tongue and my heart breaking all over again.The guards didn’t say a word as they escorted me down the corridor. I didn’t expect them to. But their silence felt like a verdict.I held my head high anyway.My boots
LilaThe scent of pine and damp earth hit me the moment I stepped from the carriage. Nightfall Pack always smelled earthy. And like wet stone and forgotten promises thanks to my father.The estate loomed quiet and gray under a sky streaked with morning haze. It looked the same, but didn’t feel the s
My fingers curled into fists. “You would let her die just to punish me?”“I would let a great many things die to keep this Pack on top,” he said evenly. “Including illusions of usefulness. You’re only back now because you’re scared.”“No,” I said, breath sharp. “I’m back because I care about her. An
DamonOutside, the courtyard stirred with the usual sounds—guards drilling, candidates murmuring in clipped, polite tones. But in my office, the silence pressed in on me like fog, heavy and muffling. The only sound was the sharp scratch of my pen against parchment as I signed off on trial amendments
LilaI had never paced so much in my life.Back and forth across my room, the same stretch of carpet worn slightly thinner with each pass. The window was open, letting in the cool afternoon breeze, but it didn’t help. My skin still burned, nerves riding just beneath the surface.The letter for Damon
I swallowed the dryness in my throat. “You’re manipulating the trials. The council.”Asher tilted his head. “Big accusation.”“You said it yourself.”“I said nothing that would hold in a courtroom,” he replied, stepping closer. “But you… Lila… you’ve got secrets of your own, don’t you?”My heart stu
LilaThe gardens were different at night.They breathed slower. Softer. The scent of blooming jasmine drifted thick on the air, curling around the trimmed hedges like a secret. Moonlight spilled in silver pools across the stone pathways, catching on the edges of statues and fountain rims.The usual
Now, sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains, catching on the edges of the candle wax I hadn’t cleaned up and the corner of parchment still poking out from beneath my pillow. I shoved it back under to hide it from myself.I dressed slowly, my hands a little clumsy as I pulled on a soft, neutral
LilaThe candle had burned down to a puddle, flickering low enough that shadows danced along the walls of my room, stretching long and uncertain.Unable to sleep, I sat cross-legged on the floor, the marble cool against my legs even through the thin fabric of my nightdress. The original letter reste
LilaThe candle on my nightstand had burned down to a stub, its flame trembling like it, too, wasn’t sure whether it should keep going.I lay on my side, fully dressed atop the blankets, my hair still damp from rinsing off the bathhouse steam. The air in my room had cooled, but heat still clung to m
I sat on one of the low, cushioned benches by the wall, arms wrapped around my knees, fingers absently tracing the embroidery on my gown. The moisture in the air clung to my skin, kissed my throat and collarbone, but couldn’t soften the burn sitting in my chest.The ranking hadn’t changed everything
LilaIt was like Emma had become a ghost. I searched for her everywhere but after an hour it was clear she wasn’t in any of the usual places, or any unusual ones either.So I settled into the archives to do a little light brooding and maybe learn a little more before the next trial, whatever it woul
LilaThe package was small—no larger than a folded napkin—but it gleamed like treasure in Emma’s hands.We sat in the lounge, the windows cracked to let in the early light. Morning wind carried the scent of fresh lemon blossoms from the courtyard, soft and sharp all at once. My tea sat cooling on th