LIOR POV
The war council assembled in the grand hall of Thornhaven with the weight of centuries pressing down on every word spoken.
I stood among the vampire elite, my father Lord Crestfall at the head of the table, Kaelen at his right hand like the heir he wished I'd never been. Red eyes gleamed in torchlight—predators gathered to discuss the hunt. To discuss how best to slaughter the wolves who dared shelter the corruption that had claimed me.
That I'd chosen to be claimed by.
My wrist burned beneath my sleeve. The twin moons I'd carved there still ached, still reminded me with every heartbeat that I wore Lucian's mark. That the bond between us hadn't faded with distance—if anything, it had grown stronger since the moon turned gold.
Since the heavens themselves witnessed what we'd done.
"The wolves refuse our terms." My father's voice cut through the murmurs. Cold. Absolute. "The Alpha of Alphas—Araya Varrow—has declared she will not surrender her son to our justice."
