Later that afternoon I walked the walls with Lila, the cold wind tugging at my cloak. Darius walked beside me, one hand on my lower back. Kane and Rylan followed a few steps behind, giving us space but staying close. The baby had fallen asleep against my chest, her small weight a constant reminder of why I was doing this.
"You're changing things faster than they expected," Darius said quietly. "Some of them are scared. They've never had a queen who speaks back."
I smiled down at Lila's dark hair. "Good. They need to be scared of something other than my father's silver chains."
Kane caught up to us, his scarred hand brushing my arm. "The southern scouts report your father is still regrouping. He's lost men, but he's sending envoys to the smaller packs. He's telling them the child is cursed and that keeping you here will bring the witch's wrath on all of us."
Rylan snorted. "Let him talk. The packs that matter are already listening to us."
