Nina stood outside the grand hall doors for longer than she should have.
The guards on either side kept their eyes forward, not looking at her, not moving. Her hands were loose at her sides as her mind worked. She tilted her head to the right, thinking, then to the left.
Then she exhaled.
The plan was to know how mad he was so she would know what to do next. Fairly good plan, until she entered the hall.
He was at the far end of the hall, in the Alpha's seat, one elbow on the armrest, his head resting against his hand. The hall was empty apart from him. Her footsteps carried across the floor as she came in and his eyes locked on hers.
The next words he said evaporated every plan she had before walking in.
''Stop there.''
His voice reverberated through the hall and Nina's feet came to an instant stop.
She lifted her eyes to his face and for the first time since that morning, his anger was showing.
Nina held her breath.
A second passed, and he lifted his elbow off the armrest.
