PH

before t

he same words stare back at me, no matter how m

nd tired. What are you tr

ore she vanished. No calls, no messages, just this

ay

el Ha

ation. No hint. Every

ing something would appear. Some clue

a analyst are quiet, full of spreadsheets and patterns. But tod

know when she was going on one of her wild trips across the univer

is is wrong and I don

me and Natalie, taken the day I was finally released as

ver, offered like a peace token between witch

regiver assigned to me. She became my fi

t me, how she grabbed my hand and snuck us out of that cold

re you,

phn

ts. I know that voice. It's Peter, m

t is here

u

ve an aunt until I see

sil

aide. A true-blood witch. Cold and sh

jaw tighten. I hate it when witch business crosses into my human li

efore walking off, leaving me

ere?" I ask, my voice

ies coolly, leaning against my desk. She lowers her

efore she can re

sk, folding my arms. "I thought h

to stay with the humans. Not once. No

ed. She's clearly not interested in small talk

ray with two steaming cups. "Coffee for

orrect him, so

of the cups. It slides off the tray

slips from his hands a

aunt just do?" he asks,

ook at what you've done

like I'm the one being diff

yes with him. Her voice drops into a slow,

he blinks, confused. "I brought coffee, huh?" He looks down

trust Drusilla not to cause more trouble. One more mistake, a

still sipping her coffe

sweetly, handing him the

that, we lea

lwyn Heights, t

rs since I last s

I take a moment to look around, the familiar

with a few of his subjects. When he sees me, he gives a

d take a seat, not botherin

no intention of staying here longer than I have

walks over. Up close, I notice t

he asks, lowering himself i

reply, crossing my legs

?" I ask, skipping t

long sigh before

witches and the werewolves," he says. His voice is dry

f. That can't be right. Max, the Alpha I know of, hates witches. He's our number o

, shaking his hea

don't. I've been too caught up in my life amo

pha?" I ask. "Wha

w Alpha killed him. You know their tradi

hair, trying to process that. Still, I do

gerous than Max ever was. And with the human dignitaries supporting him now, he has the po

y losing interest in this po

to be a weddi

have to do with me?"

th you," Father says calmly

aring at him. "You've

the princess. It's your duty to protect our pe

o I look li

iremont!"

throwing me away, just like when I was five. You gave me up then, and now yo

in his eyes. He will always choose

say, my voice cold, "i

s adopted by Natalie's mother. Th

ngs to do," I say, turning

ach the door, Fa

," he says quietly

ree

Ezekiel Hawthorne?" I repeat, the

says. "He's

at, everything c

atalie's jour

andom. It w

ed..." I whisper, more

r continues, "he'll take it as a sign that we're not ser

even thi

rry him,

looks s

the Alpha