The Wolf Prince's Rejected Mate Was the Last Phoenix

een awake sinc

ver platters for the evening feast. Her hands were red and raw from the hot water, but she did not stop. She never st

the room. "The Moon Ceremony begins at sunset. You have exactl

Me? But I thought the servant

ose are the king's orders." Marta's stern face softene

had not expected anyone

efore I change my mind a

ed her hands on h

g that felt like home. A tiny window looked out over the forest. A faded blue blanket covered her n

e did every morning. "Today is the

own her back. Her only good dress was a simple cream gown she had mended so many times th

not have the beauty of the noble ladies. She had no

of sixteen. Sera had heard nothing. Only silence. The other servants whi

rl's destined mate, and perhaps, just perhaps, t

the pale evening sky. "I on

he picked up her skirts a

hole kingdom seemed to have gathered beneath them. Nobles in velvet and jewels stood near the front. Me

ne, a tall pillar of pale crystal tha

had gathered in a nervous line. Most of them wore silk. Some wore jewels in their hai

er chin and

g Alaric Draven, tall and silver-haired, watched the crowd with sh

king's right hand

breath

orgotten him. He was twenty-two years old, broad-shouldered and straight-backed, with black hair and eyes the color of storm

oon Stone, not at the c

of the kingdom's most powerful lord, was beautiful in the way a polished blade is beautiful. Her golde

d for. The whole kingdom knew her fa

That has nothing to do w

, and the crow

e oldest seer in the kingdom, with white hair and eyes the color of m

r clouded eyes t

d not say why. The old woman's lips moved as if she

the Moon Goddess blesses her children. Those who have reached their eighteenth

girls approached

and a young man in the crowd gasped and stepped forward with tears in his eyes. The crow

ounded harder

damp. She felt the eyes of the crowd

lyn," Elder Mori

spers ran throu

olfles

itchen

the Godde

like walking through deep water. When she reached the

nly Sera could hear, "whatever happens tonight, r

d. "I don't

odded at the crystal

, Sera pressed her palm

second, not

crowd cried out and shielded their eyes. Gold and white and a deep, burning red

e like that. Judging by the shocked fa

rd went utt

and ancient as the moon itsel

is born of

heart s

of Moonfall.

through dry leaves. Heads turned. Hund

glowing stone. Kaelen? Her mate was the Crown Pri

n to stir, like a candle being lit in a long-empty ro

bo

y and looked up

r, and for a single moment, she saw something raw and startled flash across h

smile full of hope. He feels

shed. Her face had gone white, and her fingers were gripp

. Kaelen did not look away from Sera, but a muscle moved in his jaw.

smile f

ard held i

ly, the Crown Prince of