LOGINRavena's POV The Grand Princess's pack was behind a tall pale wall with iron gates, and the two guards at those gates didn't move to open them when our carriage stopped.One of them came to the window instead, polite and stone-faced."Forgive me, my lady. The Grand Princess is not at home. She has gone out on business."
Ravena's POV The King's banquet went on for hours, the way royal meals do, course after course, and it was past midday before Evander and I were free to call for our carriage and go home.We were on the steps when Orren found us again.I was beginning to dread the sight of that man. He had the same paper roll in his hand and the same look on his face. He drew Evander aside by the elbow and spoke low, and I
Ravena's POV His eyes had closed on the words, and for a moment I thought he had gone to sleep right there on the long seat with his head tipped against the post of the bed."They were yours," he had said. "I wanted them to like me." And then nothing, just the slow heavy breathing of a man the drink had finally caught up with.I knelt in front of him a while longer with the cloth gone cold in my hand, looki
Ravena's POV By the time the moon was high, I had a cup in my hand that someone kept filling when I wasn't looking.I don't drink much as a rule. But this was my wedding, and my own people were here, and every time I set the cup down some laughing cousin of Evander's or some old Alpha with a red face would lift his own and call out a blessing on the new Luna, and there was no setting it down after that. You drink to a blessing.
Lady Vivienne's POVThe evening called for a new dress.The morning had been for the binding, the silver cord, the vows before the King. The evening was for the kingdom to come and look at what my son had married, and to eat at his table, and to carry the story of it home. So the bride and groom went away to change, and the servants ran fresh candles down every hallway, and I stood in my own room while my maid pinned the deep wine silk at my shoulder and tried to make myself look like a woman who was glad.
Ravena's POV The road bent one more time, and the noise of the crowd changed.I felt it before I understood it. The marching feet ahead of my carriage slowed. The horses shortened their steps. Somewhere up at the front of the column a voice called an order, and the whole long line of us drew down from a steady roll into a walk.I pulled the curtain back a little bit and looked out.Another procession had come up to the crossing where the two pack roads met. I saw the banner first. It wasn't ours. It was the dark banner of the Blackstone Pack, lifted high on a pole, and behind it rode a column of men in their own dress armour, and behind them came a bridal carriage hung with red cloth.My hand was steady on the curtain as I waited for the old sick pull in my stomach that his name used to bring. But it didn't come.A horse moved up the line on the other side. I heard the creak of a saddle, and then I heard his voice."Your Highness." Lucien. Smooth and confident, the voice he used when
Ravena's POVOne night, the camp was filled with screams and explosions that shook the ground under our cots. I woke with my heart in my throat and the taste of smoke in my mouth. Mira was already holding the lamp, her face pale.We quickly pulled on our royal guard uniforms, made of dark leather w
Ravena's POVBefore Evander could respond, I chimed in. “Of course not. He specifically requested to speak with just me.”“But we…” Rhea started, but I gestured for her to stop.“Just… go and rest. We’ve had a really long day.”I sensed their curious stares and their silent questions, and when our
Lucien's POVThe chandeliers in the grand hall burned bright, but the light felt cold on my skin. Dressed in a black tailcoat with a tight collar, I stared at the white flowers that lined the aisle.It had been two weeks since Ravena left. I had hoped anger would toughen me, yet all I felt was a du
Ravena's POVBefore I could answer, the flap of the tent was pushed open.Evander stepped in with his usual unreadable face, arms crossed like he owned the air we breathed. His broad frame filled the space as if the tent had suddenly shrunk just to make room for his presence. His eyes scanned the s







