my wrists still tied, and every step across that stone flo

n the walls, same cold draft that never goes away no matter how many

to belo

ing me through it

the width of his shoulders and try to match this man up with the one who used to

already going, maps and papers stacked neat on a heavy desk. He waits unti

her," h

ha, she was found near a

d unti

rists are free. I rub the raw skin where the rope dug in, and

ys, still not loo

is tha

The guard bows and slips out, t

s at me the way you'd look at something

e's testing the name out loud, like he

myself hold his eyes even though e

f a grave in Grimwood." It's n

orn smooth from saying it over and over. "I was attacked, I w

g rider used, and hearing it fro

how it

from where I'm standing, a woman with no history and a stolen name walks straight into my ter

remembers the exact d

y, and my voice comes out

face, the shadows under his eyes, the way his jaw sta

skin, I can feel it, pushing toward me

t," he says, quiet, almost

wh

ught himself doing something wrong.

I told you, I d

ut you remembered my territory's name w

sest," I say. Close enough to true that it does

for another

g slow, hoping my heartbeat isn

ed," he sai

ha

w what was coming. Like men like him have grabbed you before." His eyes nar

er him being, before all of this, and I hate that four

what to tell

ays ago. Since then I've just been try

ose to it. Something almost like guilt. He turns awa

ars ago. Someone I trusted more than anyone in this worl

so bad I can

orry,"

ck to face me. "I need to understand why a stranger w

ps, ja

ng like

omething raw flashing behind his eyes for

all business now, all Alpha again. "Under

a pris

grave with no history and no proof of

atever help

o idea who he's actually talking to. I nod once and swallow

back in. "Take her to the guest wing, po

, Al

g me go, the same unreadable look on his face, like he's try

e right away even after four years. The room that used to be mine,

xt to it and pushes it open, I step insid

ed, sharp eyes, dark hair pulled back tight.

wrapped around a blade. "You're the