s the royal courtyard, swallowing the music, the laughter, an

wolves, forcing even the strongest Alphas to stiffen as their

s turned toward t

w even brighter, bathing the arena in an eerie scarlet

ss's expression

oking toward Elara, whose fingers still rested upon th

rembled wit

isk has a

e ans

d spent the evening gossiping n

emained dormant for ne

awakened only when destiny itself wa

forward, leaning heavily up

ce had lost ever

ned during a royal ch

members exchange

enerals lowe

does i

swallowed

ddess is witnessing t

ead through

own up hearing storie

terfered in m

she d

ingdoms

t smile faltered for the

owan, searching his

y, "surely this is merely

wer, the High Priestes

N

d enough certainty to

not awaken for pol

rs tightened aro

has it a

ss looked t

e are about

he stone had r

ry sign of the bond the Moon Goddess

se she fe

xactly how the cou

erv

eal

grateful simply for breath

ver wanted

only wan

n the united kingdoms wa

quickly turned

o another and whispered loudly

r touched

woman

she cast

lpha laughed

ld an Omega pos

rough the audience like spa

spers surrounded Elara

ht she acted ab

she plann

seeing His Majest

barrassing

n landed harde

traight despite the tighte

fallen comp

er more than the

r wolf had always a

igh

s only e

drawn to protect itself fro

lly steppe

oice echoed acro

oug

rs faded i

nore the Alpha

toward the Hi

hat the Obelisk is

ss remained silent

mediately, she approach

urface shimmered be

lowly appeared

ter an

ls had not been s

dropped to their kn

markings," one elde

the Era of the

holar shoo

s impos

een lost for over e

ess closed

an translating t

mson Moon bea

pa

hing beca

by fear shall stand

nswered h

symbols

stess co

may replac

spread across the

e had become n

" one Eastern n

has already

stess ig

ed fixed upon t

dess rejects

ruck the arena

guards exchanged

one determined

e union," she dec

chosen me before t

lisk dis

not come from

urned toward

rick slowly ra

ion had bec

ly, "has the authority to

ere changed

ent transformed i

ves, a king r

oddess rul

estioned t

es shifted toward

e wasn't staring at

watch

her exp

answers she di

ng about this,"

t an acc

lmost like a

is gaze wit

lisk would awaken, I wo

m despite the storm ra

ause you as

ntence linger

l members lowe

at evening, Rowan see

them before the silence

g a smile back onto her fac

asn't

y no

y wa

y se

ained completely focused upon the three f

ration c

sic p

ed for the untouc

unfolding

wished

slowly turned awa

ony cannot

d through t

nne f

mean it can

s has interrupte

rm the bles

can

voice carried

d against divine wi

nt ignited fresh pa

ely began arguing with mem

ed the cere

isted it b

quoting ancient law

rderly celebration ha

aised o

ged outward with o

urned almos

is suspended u

ared across co

ki

protesting noble wit

s my de

argued

leaving their seats, but no

Goddess herself rej

must be invo

uly is the King

ossi

lain the

ad faster t

uld hear a different version of what

re she stood, exha

return to the quiet room she h

ed someone approa

amiliar feminine voice spoke clos

t quietly when you s

y faced Lad

r wore the gracious smile

d hatred

r until their faces were se

efore the entire cont

last night you will ever

steadily in

d not

longer

returned, colder

is that ever

was speaking with the High P

y, "the entire kingdom will believe

gh for only Elara to

certain they ne