ithin the palace. I suspected Alaric wanted me close where he could watch me

, of cours

make them welcoming with fresh flowers and soft furnishings. I destroyed the flowers immediat

half-life required less rest than normal wolves. So I wandered the palace halls

that echo of connection trying to draw us together. I could feel Alaric inside, awake an

suffer the way

m behind me. I'd known he was following but pr

im. "Are you going

ith those intelligent eyes. "You look like her. Not exactly, but close

had always been perceptive. "Does it m

night he dreams of her. Every day he wakes up and remembers that he chose wrong. Whatever you think he is, whatever m

ge is working,

expression turned sad. "Because if it's the latter, you've already succeeded. He's

to hear that Alaric had suffered. I didn't want to im

telling me th

t mistake of his life, and I didn't fight hard enough to stop him." Kael's jaw tightened. "I won't fail again. If you're really h

ver his mate. That he let me die alone in a forest." My voic

the real prophecy. She manipulated it, twisted the words to suit her own ambitions. She wanted to be

flickered with my agit

d the cursed omega would bring change to the kingdom, that the king would face a choice between the old wa

t be true? Had everythi

you tell him

e realized he'd destroyed his mate for nothing." Kael stepped closer. "He tried to find a way to bring you back. Consulted every witch, every seer, every magic user in the

y revenge was supposed to be simple. He was the villain. I was the victim. But Kae

you're planning. Yes, he made a terrible choice. Yes, he hurt you beyond measure. But he's paid for it every day sin

ho'd stood beside the throne, triumphant,

she now?

's head with warnings about you, about how dangerous you are." Kael's expression hardened

et, sharper and more deserving. Seraphine had destroyed us both. She'd manipulated a yo

o her," I

l kill her. And murder in the palace won't help your cause." Kael touched

mmediate satisfaction, wanted to tear ap

asked. "You're his Beta. You

ow. Eira. Not the same way Alaric did, but I cared about her. She was kind and gentle and deserved so much better than what we gave h

her lies, clearing Alaric's decision of the false prophecy that had drive

which one I

id finally. "About ever

Kael started to leave, then paused. "One more thing. Whatever you decide, whatever happens between you and Alaric, know that he never stopped loving you. Even when he

e darkness inside me screamed for revenge, for blood, for the satisfaction of watching Alaric

're becoming the very doom he feared, not

leep, when it finally came, was filled with dreams of silv