ALPHA'S HIDDEN MATE

panes of the servant quarters like a lullaby. But Elara was already awake, sitt

pt much since

at kept her awake,it was the memory of Lucien's voice. The wa

a Va

her like a half-

oping that if she repeated it enough, the rest would come ba

long the scar that cu

d the night

d save

e come looking fo

ss his chest with deliberate precision. A traveling cloak lay folded across hi

brushing water f

You'll be able to ride out

Did you get the

d patrol's been shifted. The west tr

I won't be gone long. Keep

la

nodde

y. You're already tal

aused. "

s echoing through

the stables when she h

ised? Bram rarely

d the toolshed behind the stable.

er fairly. He never smiled much, but his gruff kindness

scent of hay and rust

the door b

low. Do you remember the

eath c

Faces blurred, voices echoed, but there had a

dded s

. Just told us you'd survived something terrible an

t her

us you were importa

ips parte

am said. I checked records. Town logs. No one h

enched h

are changing. You're being not

her something-a delicate c

ok it, f

gs,Bram said. "Figured

he pendant ove

beneath the dirt and wear, a silver

eath h

w this

knew

ed behind her eyes,

r-haired woman sh

alls. Wolves snarlin

mbled bac

she shook her head, pressi

ld room. A blue ribbon on a bedpost. A ma

it wa

at Bram, tea

hispered hoarsel

her in stun

y, he nodde

ails, cloak soaked and eyes sharp. He didn't stop to re

white stones,he slowed. A pair of guards stood waiting, th

through wit

, half-shrouded in mist. Lucien dismounted and climb

warm and scented w

ray cloak, eyes sharp as glass. He was one of the few

once. I nee

ed him for a

Lucien Blackwood. I

as hidden. It bears the Vanora crest. I need to know what'

with careful hands, eye

d,he murmured.

understand, if I open thi

dded. "I'

broke t

cracked

tter, silence wrapped

ickly over the pa

up, his expre

betrayal. It names the one who led the ma

heart pou

ed him dead

Blackwood.