LUCIAN POV
They brought us to the war room—or dragged us, more accurately. Lyra and two other Direwolf warriors flanking me and Lior like prisoners instead of the refugees we'd just become.
Lior's hand found mine as we walked, cold fingers threading through warm. Through the bond I felt his terror, his certainty that we'd just traded one execution for another.
I won't let them hurt you, I sent.
You can't promise that. His presence was bleak. You're about to face treason charges because of me.
He wasn't wrong.
The war room doors opened to reveal my mother standing at the head of the table, still in battle leathers, silver hair streaked with ash and blood that wasn't hers. Ronan stood to her right, golden eyes burning with barely contained fury.
And arrayed around the table—the Direwolf council. Every elder, every warrior-captain, every voice that held weight in our mountain stronghold.
All of them staring at me with expressions ranging from confusion to disgust.
