VOWS TO THE DEVIL

ot sleep t

ed on the window. The grey-haired man had vanished into the shadows,

you are often the on

, feeling the faint pulse of something beneath her skin. Not her heart

ainting the chamber in shades of ash and stone. Lyra had not

he door made

ed, hating the tr

ore, but an older woman with iron-grey hair and eyes that missed n

t," the woman said. Her voice was clipped. Profe

mson. The color of blood. The

she repeated.

my l

yesterday? The one in the shado

flickered. Just for a mom

is Majesty's most trusted adviser. The Beta Comman

smiled at her with such warmth. Th

wolf had war

window and looked down at the courtyard. Em

," she murmured.

g. But Lyra saw her han

, "is often a mask worn by those who

s. For one moment, there was understand

lp you dres

*

aller than the throne roo

table. He was dressed in black, his hair loose around his face. H

ed at the documents spread before him, his brow

he said

e between them felt like a chasm. She reached for a pi

without looking up. "Every kingdom will send rep

ed. "I un

dress, the way it clung to her frame. Something flickere

said. The words were flat. Neutral.

ou, Your

d. "Kael. You wi

e on her tongue. Intimate. W

d for a moment, she saw something raw beneath

alliance," he said. "Because S

ha

Hollow needs the metal for weapons. The other kingdoms

im. "You married

here is no room for sentiment when your people are s

eam that she was more than a trans

ather had said. No wol

own at her h

ed toward her. He stopped at her side, close enough that

sk for a wife. But I will not allow harm to co

ou treat me li

ment. Then he spoke, and hi

e it's

ehind him. Lyra sat alone at the long table,

chest, the

pered. He has been hu

will

*

nder found her

ack Hollow were not gardens at all-they were a maze of black stone and dead thorn

steps behind h

he weak sunlight. His face was creased with age, his eyes ki

ew bet

was hoping I would find you. I

"Thank you, Command

lpha's father before him. And now I serve his son." He clasped his hands behind his

prickled. "S

Moon Goddess herself blessed your family." He smiled that warm, fa

you are often the on

ession pleasant. "

at ambition." Aldric tilted his head. "Tel

heart s

sor

scattered across the seven kingdoms. Each pack guards a fragment." His eyes gleame

e wolf stir.

. He knows. He kn

that," Lyra said carefully. "

lady to know such... weighty matters." He reached out and patted her han

arm. It made he

yra said, pulling away. "

course, my lady. I

the dead garden. Lyra kept her eyes forward. She fe

pered. He knows what yo

ed the castle, A

endly. "Those assassins the other night... terrible

"Do you have

lways does." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping. "I do hope you're car

lked away, his footste

he garden, her heart p

f repeated. And h

st be

*

of the castle settling around her. Guards outside her door. Servants i

ave felt saf

the seal that bound it. It was stronger now. Mor

whispered. Let

alm to her chest.

lways known. You

sure, the caged thing inside her. She reache

eins. Her vision flickered, and for a split second,

he sa

Documents spread before him. A map of the seve

urmured. "Weak. Broken.

ere not kind anymore. They w

e. And then the Devil

. She was in her chambers, her body

retreat

knew the

sins. He had known about the Devil

nted it f

d. She crossed to th

tside turned

the Alpha," s